The Colorado Avalanche will have to wait and see on the status of a pair of forwards heading into a must-win Game 4.
Head coach Jared Bednar told reporters on Monday he had no update on Nathan MacKinnon or Valeri Nichuskin, with both players getting treatment for lower-body injuries.
MacKinnon was hobbled during Sunday’s Game 3 loss against the Vegas Golden Knights after blocking a shot with his right knee during the second period.
Nichushkin did not play for most of the third period loss, and Bednar had no updates for other players after the game.
“You lose Nate and Val … so you’re running a shorter bench, and you’re just doing the best you can to try and create a chance to win the hockey game,” said Bednar after the Game 3 loss. “I don’t know, how do you navigate it? You just put your head down (and) keep working. You got three different lines or two different lines, and spot shift in your 10th guy to try and give some guys a break; not ideal circumstances, for sure.”
The hit for Colorado comes just as star defenceman Cale Makar returned for his series debut in Game 3 after dealing with what seemed to be a shoulder injury.
MacKinnon, 30, won the Rocket Richard Trophy this season with 53 goals in 80 games while leading the Avalanche to the Presidents’ Trophy. He has seven goals and eight assists in 12 playoff games.
Game 4 between the Avalanche and Golden Knights is set for Tuesday (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+, 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT).
Vegas leads the series 3-0.
—With files from Associated Press