Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon leaves game with upper-body injury

Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon left Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first period with an upper-body injury. The Avalanche have confirmed prior to the third period that MacKinnon will be out for the remainder of the game after being further evaluated by the Avalanche’s medical staff. 

The exact reason for the injury has not been made clear. However, MacKinnon was hit multiple times by Flyers forward Scott Laughton and looked to be in pain following a wrist shot he took from the point. He registered one shot in just under five minutes of ice time. The Avs’ went into the game against the Flyers with a total of eleven players injured. Forwards Jean-Luc Foudy and Artturi Lehkonen are considered day-to-day. While the injured reserve currently includes Valeri Nichushkin, Josh Manson, Evan Rodrigues, Bowen Byram, Shane Bowers and Kurtis MacDermid. To add to the Avs’ injury woes, captain Gabriel Landeskog and Darren Helm are on long-term injury reserve (LTIR) after having off-season surgery and have yet to get a game this season. 

MacKinnon, 27, registered 88 points (32G, 56A) in 65 games last season followed up with an incredible 24 points (13G, 11A) in 20 postseason games to help the Avalanche capture their first Stanley Cup Championship since 2001. MacKinnon was selected first overall in the 2013 NHL Draft by the Avalanche after winning the KIA Memorial Cup with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. MacKinnon has been a household name for many years in Denver. The two-time NHL All-Star signed a monster eight-year $100.8 million contract extension this past summer. He currently has 33 points in 22 games this season. The Avalanche will face the Boston Bruins at home Wednesday.