Avalanche’s Ross Colton leaves Game 1 versus Stars with lower-body injury

The Colorado Avalanche came away with the victory in their series opener against the Dallas Stars in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, though the night wasn’t without concern.

Following the 5-1 road victory, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar confirmed that forward Ross Colton had suffered a lower-body injury but was hopeful that a further update on his status would be provided Sunday, per Meghan Angley of Guerilla Sports.

In Game 1, Colton left early in the third period and did not return, ultimately wrapping up the night with 7:04 in time on ice in which he finished with one shot and three hits.

Skating in his second season with the Avalanche, Colton wrapped up the 2024-25 campaign with 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points coupled with a minus-one rating and 18 penalty minutes coming in 61 games.

Originally chosen by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL Draft, the 28-year-old native of Robbinsville, N.J., has totaled 331 career contests between the Lightning and Avalanche in which he has recorded 80 goals and 72 assists for 152 points. With the Avalanche in 2023-24, Colton reached a career-high 40 points counting 17 goals and 23 assists coming in 80 games. Colton has also collected 23 points in 64 postseason appearances underscored by four goals and two assists for six points in 23 games en route to a Stanley Cup championship with the Lightning in 2021.

The Avalanche acquired Colton from the Lightning in the 2023 offseason in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft. Per PuckPedia, Colton is in the second year of a four-year contract that carries a $4-million average annual value.

Game 2 between the Avalanche and Stars comes Monday in Dallas. Beyond Colton, the Avalanche also remain without captain Gabriel Landeskog, who did not dress for the series opener.