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.
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