The Colorado Avalanche left Thursday with a bigger problem than a 4-3 overtime loss. Both Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon went down with lower-body injuries in the second period, and coach Jared Bednar had no update afterward.
The good news, if there is any, is that both players are traveling with the team to Montreal. Bednar said he’s not sure about either of them for Saturday night against the Canadiens.
MacKinnon’s injury came after he took a reverse hit attempt on Senators defenseman Artem Zub and grabbed his right side. He tried to stay on the bench, but eventually headed down the tunnel.
Makar’s night ended even faster: he took a shift at 10:44 that lasted only four seconds before he went to the locker room. His issue also comes just four days after he left practice on Sunday for precautionary reasons.
“Obviously, they’re two of the best players in the world, so you like to have them, no doubt,” Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said. “But I don’t think it’s any different, right?
Like you just play with whoever you got, whoever’s ready to go, whoever’s healthy and up. They play.
So, hope those guys will be just fine.”
Elsewhere, Jordan Staal looks close to getting back in the lineup for Carolina. The 38-year-old center could return Saturday against the Seattle Kraken at the 2026 NHL Global Series in Finland after missing 14 games with a calf injury.
He has practiced twice in Finland and even worked on special teams Friday. Rod Brind’Amour said the team brought him over hoping to get him into a game, though there’s no urgency.
Staal, last season’s Conn Smythe winner, has no points in six games this season. Pyotr Kochetkov and Alexander Nikishin could also play.
Minnesota may be on the verge of getting Brock Faber back, too. John Hynes said the defenseman could make his season debut Saturday against Boston after recovering from a skull fracture.
Faber was hurt Sept. 25 against Dallas and had surgery two days later. Hynes called Saturday possible but not certain, and said if it doesn’t happen then, it should be soon after.
Michael Russo of The Athletic reported that conversations still needed to happen with Faber, the coaches and the strength and conditioning department, and that everybody, especially Faber, has to feel comfortable he’s ready.
In Winnipeg, Dylan DeMelo is headed to injured reserve after suffering a lower-body injury Thursday against Dallas. The defenseman is expected to miss about a week or more after Mikko Rantanen fell on his right leg.
Because of the IR move, DeMelo cannot return before Nov. 21 against Vegas. The Jets also recalled Henry Thrun from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.
The injury comes just two games after Josh Morrissey returned from a month-long absence.
In Other News...
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The blue line remains one of the biggest questions hanging over Carolina as the calendar turns, and Erik Karlsson keeps surfacing as a name worth watching. The Penguins defenseman is a pending unrestricted free agent, and with his future in Pittsburgh still unsettled, the possibility of a move has only sharpened the market around him. For a Hurricanes team that has long valued puck-moving defensemen, this is the kind of situation that naturally draws attention.
There is still plenty to sort out before anything becomes real, though, and the broader trade picture around the league is only adding to the noise. Toronto is also looking to make a meaningful defensive upgrade before the March 1 deadline, which underscores how many teams are chasing the same kind of help. For Carolina, the question is less about whether Karlsson fits and more about whether the right opening ever appears to make a deal possible. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Suddenly Look Like A Real Threat In Michkov Sweepstakes
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For the Hurricanes, the appeal is obvious: they have the kind of structure and assets that can keep them in the mix if this situation ever gets serious. Any pursuit would come with major cost and plenty of moving parts, but Carolina has already been discussed as a team that could make a compelling case if the door truly opens on a fresh start for Michkov. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Just Got Pulled Into The NHLs Finland Dilemma
The NHLs plans for future games in Helsinki have suddenly become a little more complicated, and the ripple effect could matter for teams like the Hurricanes if the league keeps looking overseas for regular-season dates. Finland announced it will refuse entry to Russian athletes starting Monday, a policy that applies regardless of whether those players are there with national teams, as neutrals or under club affiliation. That puts the league in the position of having to weigh more than just travel and scheduling if it revisits Finland as a destination.
The NHL has already staged regular-season games in Finland in 2022 and 2024, so the market is not new to the league. But with no future games there announced yet, the new restrictions add another layer to any potential return, especially for clubs that could be affected by roster composition and the leagues broader international calendar. For now, it is another reminder that even a routine overseas trip can turn into a logistical and political puzzle. [Read more 🡒]