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Rantanen questionable for Sharks |
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Rick Sadowski
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The Avalanche might be without two-thirds of their top line Tuesday when they play San Jose at the Pepsi Center.
Center Nathan MacKinnon, who skated before practice Monday, remains out for 2-4 weeks with an upper-body injury and right wing Mikko Rantanen is "banged up" and questionable for the game, coach Jared Bednar said.
Rookie Alexander Kerfoot has replaced MacKinnon on the line with left wing Gabriel Landeskog, and Colin Wilson skated in Rantanen's place at practice. Wilson will be on the line Tuesday if Rantanen can't go.
"It's not an ideal situation, but there's still a chance that he could play tomorrow," Bednar said of Rantanen, the Avalanche's second-leading scorer with 50 points (17 goals, 33 assists) in 51 games. "We'll see how it goes in the morning."
Jonathan Bernier will start in goal.
Wilson, who has missed time because of injuries and illness, has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 38 games.
"Wilson's a real competitive guy," Bednar said. "He plays hard, plays the right way at both sides of the puck all the time. I think the more opportunities he gets with skill players the more plays he makes and the more dangerous he is offensively. He goes to the net hard. He lacks a little bit of finishing lately around the net, but you have to keep creating the chances and eventually they'll go in."
MacKinnon will miss his third game since getting injured Jan. 30 in a collision with Vancouver defenseman Alexander Edler.
"There's no change on MacKinnon at this point," Bednar said. "We've given the timetable and if anything changes on that we'll let you know. It's just him wanting to get on the ice and skate, still use his legs. He's got the upper-body injury."
Forward Sven Andrighetto (leg) and defenseman Mark Barberio (lower-body injury) didn't practice. Bednar said he didn't have timetable for either player's return.
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