The Colorado Avalanche would have gone well from this forced break due to a COVID-19 outbreak, but the club minimally took the opportunity to treat a few injuries, including that to the lower body of forward Nathan MacKinnon.
MacKinnon, who ultimately missed a single game, is expected to return to the game with his team on Sunday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Forward Pierre-Édouard Bellemare and defender Devon Toews also seem ready to resume action.
“All three guys say they’re feeling good,” head coach Jared Bednar told the NHL website of a possible comeback.
At a press conference, MacKinnon confirmed that he would play from the next game, but that his rehabilitation had not been easy since the team’s infrastructure was temporarily closed due to COVID-19.
“It was difficult, but I had a lot of exercises to do. I really feel good about coming back. I feel like I won’t have any sign of rust, so I’m excited to come back, hoping that I can regain my rhythm and start playing again, ”noted the team’s top scorer.
At the other end of the spectrum, three Avalanche players who fought the virus, including Quebecer Samuel Girard, may have to wait a little longer before returning. Gabriel Landeskog and Tyson Jost are also in this situation.
“They’ll be fine by the middle of next week in their case,” Bednar said.
Four-game series
The Avalanche will face the Golden Knights on Sunday, but also in the next three games. An outdoor game, in Lake Tahoe, is notably scheduled for Saturday, February 20, during which the Avalanche players should put on their retro jerseys bearing the Quebec Nordiques logo.
“It’s a good team and we haven’t played for a long time,” said Bellemare. We will have to come back directly while being concentrated, otherwise they will destroy us. We will have to be ready. ”
“It’s really weird to have all this time in the middle of the season,” defenseman Ryan Graves said of the forced break. Everyone is staying indoors at this time to keep exposure to a minimum. ”
The most recent Avalanche game dates back to February 2. The Colorado team then won 2-1 against the Minnesota Wild to bring their record to 7-3-1 since the start of the season.
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