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MacKinnon scratched tonight

March 5, 2021, 4:02 PM ET [0 Comments]
Rick Sadowski
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Nathan MacKinnon took part in the morning skate but was scratched with an upper-body injury Friday when the Avalanche played the Anaheim Ducks in the first of a back-to-back set at Ball Arena to open a nine-game homestand.

Coach Jared Bednar said in the morning that MacKinnon would play and the Avalanche would use the same lineup as Wednesday in San Jose.

So much for that.

MacKinnon left the 4-0 win in San Jose at 8:08 of the third period after a hit to his head by Sharks rookie Joachim Blichfeld, who was assessed a match penalty and on Thursday was suspended two games by the NHL Player Safety Department.

Here are the GAME NOTES.

"He's obviously a big part of our team and we need him to have success,” Nazem Kadri said. “It was a bit of a scary incident and something that might have been a little unnecessary, but at the end of the day you just wish for good health. He woke up this morning feeling pretty good.”

Kadri moved to the top line and Tyson Jost took his spot on the second unit.



Gabriel Landeskog was given the morning off but will play. His wife Melissa gave birth to a boy Thursday, the couple’s second child.

Matt Calvert (upper-body injury) took part in the morning skate while wearing a non-contact jersey and is progressing, Bednar said.

Bowen Byram skated earlier, but Cale Makar didn’t; both have upper-body injuries.

The Avalanche are coming off a 3-1-0 road trip. The Ducks have lost eight in a row (0-6-2) since a 1-0 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 11.



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