Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon is hurt now, too *(Update)

LOS ANGELES – Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon, who has yet to miss a game with the team this season, left Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings in the second period.

A team spokesman said MacKinnon, the team’s leading scorer with 93 points in 68 games, was doubtful to return.

It is unclear how or when MacKinnon was hurt. The fact that there was still a chance MacKinnon could have returned – I got word from the team with about eight minutes left in the second period – could be seen as a glint of optimism about his condition moving forward.

But as any Avs fans know by now: the medical tests will tell the full story.

More on this as it develops…

Here is where I believe the injury happened, based on my own video review:

With 10:05 left in the second period, MacKinnon becomes entangled with the Kings’ Martin Frk along the boards.

Here they are a second or two later:

When play was whistled dead a few seconds later, you can see MacKinnon skate over to Frk to say something. Here’s an irony: MacKinnon and Frk were teammates together in junior hockey, with the Halifax Mooseheads.

MacKinnon never played another shift after this.

More as it develops…

Here are player and coach Bednar interviews, via my Periscope feed, after the game. We were not allowed to go into the locker room after the game – no media was, because of the coronavirus – and so I just taped everything. Bednar said he knew nothing about the extent of MacK’s injury.

Asked if he was worried it could be long term, Bednar said, and I’m paraphrasing here, that he’s always concerned when a Nathan MacKinnon isn’t on the bench.

https://t.co/TeNPzh1XU3

— Adrian Dater (@adater) March 10, 2020

We’ll have another long day of knowing nothing on Tuesday, probably, as the Avs won’t practice. Keep your fingers crossed, fans. It didn’t look serious to me, but I ain’t a doctor.