Nathan MacKinnon won't be on the ice tonight in Utah.
The Colorado Avalanche will be without their most important piece as the NHL’s top team resumes play following the Olympic break.
A team spokesperson confirmed that superstar center Nathan MacKinnon will sit out Wednesday night’s matchup against the Utah Mammoth for maintenance purposes.
MacKinnon, who represented Team Canada at the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, absorbed a heavy hit from France’s Pierre Crinon during preliminary round action and appeared banged up afterward. Though the 30-year-old did not miss a game in the tournament, Colorado is taking a cautious approach as the regular season intensifies.
Fellow Olympians Cale Makar, Devon Toews, and Brock Nelson are all expected to suit up for Colorado, while Utah will counter with its own Olympic talent in Clayton Keller.
MacKinnon has been the driving force behind Colorado’s dominance, piling up 40 goals and 93 points in 55 games. At 37-9-9, the Avalanche sit first in the NHL, six points clear of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Utah also receives a boost, as third-year center Logan Cooley returns to the lineup for the first time since December 5 after suffering a broken leg. The 21-year-old has registered 14 goals and 23 points in 29 games this season.
