Adrian Dater
Nathan MacKinnon may miss the Avalanche’s next game, in Chicago, because of the injury he suffered Wednesday night from a collision with Boston Bruins forward Taylor Hall. So said Avs coach Jared Bednar after the Avs’ 4-3 overtime win.
“We’ll see what (Thursday) presents for him,” Bednar said.
But Bednar said, “I don’t think so” when asked if he thought MacKinnon would play Friday in Chicago. About the hit itself, which resulted in just an interference penalty on Hall, Bednar said:
“I didn’t like it. Blindside. Little late, little high. I had a chance to review it and he catches him, and Nate’s stick goes up. I believe they probably made the right call on the 2 (minutes, instead of 5 as originally called before review). But I don’t love the hit. Whether it’s solid, or a glancing blow, it’s the type of hit that the league’s trying to get rid of.”
Bednar did say MacKinnon was “feeling better” when he left the rink.
Avs captain Gabe Landeskog said the hit on MacKinnon had to be addressed.
“In my opinion, it’s not about if it was dirty or not it’s just about sending a message…if they’re gonna step up on our best player then they’re gonna have to answer to somebody…Next time anybody thinks about doing that, there’s going to be a price to pay. Hall didn’t want to answer for it and that’s unfortunate, but, yeah, just hope Nate’s OK,” Landeskog said. “It puts you in a bit of shock when you see a guy like that bleeding that much, center ice, wobbling, not being able to get up. I think it puts you in a state where you’re not necessarily all there to play the hockey game right after that.”