Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon to Sit Out Remainder of Regular Season with Undisclosed Injury

The Colorado Avalanche will finish the regular season without star forward Nathan MacKinnon, who is being held out due to an undisclosed injury. MacKinnon missed Thursday night’s game against the Vancouver Canucks and, according to head coach Jared Bednar, may also be sidelined for the final two games of Colorado’s two-game road trip to close out the season.

Though the injury details remain vague, Bednar acknowledged it’s part injury management and part strategic rest. “He’s dealing with something,” Bednar said. “You get to this point in the year, and almost every guy is dealing with some kind of nagging issue. We’ve had a tough stretch of games since the Four Nations break. Rest is definitely a factor here.”

Despite the precautionary absence, MacKinnon has enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career. The 28-year-old leads the Avalanche with 32 goals and 84 assists, totaling 116 points, which ties him for first in the NHL with Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning. MacKinnon also owns an impressive 26-game home point streak, during which he’s recorded 43 points (16 goals, 27 assists).

Thursday's missed game snapped MacKinnon’s ironman streak of 209 consecutive regular-season games played. With the playoffs around the corner, the Avalanche are taking no chances with their franchise cornerstone, especially after clinching a spot and positioning themselves for a strong postseason run. They currently sit third in the Central Division, six points behind the Dallas Stars with one more game played. They’ll wrap up their season with road games against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday and the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday.

Head coach Jared Bednar emphasized that individual accolades aren’t the priority for MacKinnon. “His trophy case is already huge,” Bednar said. “I don’t think personal stats matter to him. He’s about winning. He got a taste of that in 2022 when we won the Cup, and now he just wants to do it again.”

Avalanche Injury Notes

Colorado is slowly getting healthier in other areas. Forward Martin Necas returned Thursday after missing three games with an upper-body injury, and defenseman Samuel Girard was also back after a four-game absence due to a lower-body issue. Forward Jonathan Drouin remains out with a lower-body injury, though he did participate in Thursday’s morning skate in a non-contact jersey.

Meanwhile, Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, who has not played since the team’s 2022 Stanley Cup run, took a major step forward in his recovery. He was assigned to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles on a conditioning stint. Landeskog has been working toward a return after undergoing cartilage transplant surgery in his right knee on May 10, 2023.

Vegas Golden Knights Get Tomas Hertl Back Just in Time for Playoff Push

Tomas Hertl is expected to return to action for the Vegas Golden Knights as they take on the Seattle Kraken. The 30-year-old forward has been out since March 23 after suffering an upper-body injury during a collision with the boards following a hit from Emil Lilleberg.

"It wasn’t a long time, thank God," Hertl said. "It always stinks to miss games, especially this close to the playoffs. But it’s good to be back. When you're injured, you kind of feel alone — staying behind, not traveling — so I'm excited to be out there again."

Hertl’s return is crucial as he has scored 31 goals and recorded 59 points in 70 games this season, ranking second on the team in goals. Head coach Bruce Cassidy expressed relief that Hertl would get some regular-season games in before the playoffs begin.

"This gives him a chance to get up to speed," Cassidy said. "We’re grateful the injury wasn’t worse. Getting him back before the playoffs is a huge bonus."

However, Vegas will be without leading scorer Jack Eichel, who is dealing with an upper-body injury and will miss his second straight game. Eichel has 93 points (27 goals, 66 assists) in 76 games. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is also out due to illness and is listed as day-to-day.

The Golden Knights (47-22-9) are in first place in the Pacific Division and can clinch the top seed with a win combined with a regulation loss by the Los Angeles Kings.

New York Islanders Lose Sorokin, Playoff Hopes Slim

Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin did not play in Thursday’s game against the New York Rangers after suffering a lower-body injury during a 7-6 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. The injury occurred when Nashville forward Michael McCarron fell on top of Sorokin while scoring.

Although Sorokin remained in the game to finish the second period, he was replaced by Marcus Hogberg for the third and overtime. Head coach Patrick Roy clarified that the injury was unrelated to Sorokin’s previous back issues, which required offseason surgery.

The Islanders (34-32-11) are clinging to fading playoff hopes, sitting eight points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with just four games remaining.

Around the League: Other Notable Injury and Return Updates

• Dallas Stars: Tyler Seguin is nearing a return after missing 55 games following hip surgery in December. He’s been cleared for contact and has rejoined full team practices. Seguin had 20 points in 19 games before surgery and could be a difference-maker if he returns in time for the postseason.

• Winnipeg Jets: The Jets welcomed back two key players — defenseman Neal Pionk (missed 12 games) and forward Nikolaj Ehlers (missed 2 games after taking a puck to the foot). Their returns bolster a team locked in a tight race atop the Central Division.

• Pittsburgh Penguins: Rookie forward Rutger McGroarty will miss the rest of the regular season after taking a puck off his left skate. Head coach Mike Sullivan is hopeful he could return for the AHL playoffs if Wilkes-Barre/Scranton advances. Pittsburgh has already been eliminated from playoff contention for the third straight season and will use the remaining games to evaluate young talent.

With the regular season winding down and the Stanley Cup Playoffs looming, teams across the NHL are balancing rest, recovery, and momentum-building. Whether it’s stars like MacKinnon sitting out or veterans like Hertl returning, health will play a pivotal role in shaping the road to the Cup.