Ross Colton and Nathan MacKinnon both put big, clean hits on opposing players that ended up being injured — but it's part of their identity. The Colorado Avalanche infused some life into their last two games — which included an elevated physical game. Unfortunately two opponents were injured from hits put on by Avs players. The NHL announced Thursday that Buffalo Sabres forward Jeff Skinner suffered an upper-body injury after a clean, legal hit from Nathan MacKinnon. He was put on the injured reserve list and is day-to-day, according to the League. "That hit tonight was something. I'll show that to all of our D," head coach Jared Bednar said with a slight laugh after the 5-1 win over the Sabres [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/news/colorado-avalanche-forward-valeri-nichushkin-scores-100th-career-goal-in-5-1-win-over-sabres]. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJjMis6Ovck[/embed] There was no infraction on the play as it was a by-the-book body check. Skinner had possession of the puck, and did not see MacKinnon skate into him. MacKinnon is a physical player but not one known to put on dirty hits. Ross Colton put a big hit on Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev on Monday night to start off the game. Officials deemed it a clean, legal hit or else there would've been a whistle and penalty — but there was no call. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJV7aXIrCYk[/embed] Colton centers a line with Miles Wood on the left and Logan O'Connor on the right — all of which have speed and size. "I really like playing with both those guys, I think we have formed an identity of how we want to play — just fast, physical, kind of putting it all together," Colton told The Hockey News' Colleen Flynn on Wednesday. "It's always nice trying to set the tone especially if we're going to start the game. Obviously didn't want what happened to occur with the guy getting hurt, but for us it's just playing physical getting pucks behind their D. We want to score but also be reliable in the defensive zone as well." Tanev skated into the corner to get possession of the puck in the Avs offensive zone and Colton skated in with a hip check. Tanev was jolted into the end boards and fell to the ice. He skated off the ice on his own and went down the tunnel after the play. He didn't return to the game and has missed the team's next two matchups. A hit from Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway on New Jersey Devils forward Luke Hughes sparked a controversial response from Flyers head coach John Tortorella [https://thehockeynews.com/news/reacting-to-john-tortorellas-thoughts-on-todays-state-of-big-hits-in-the-nhl]: "Our players in this league do not put enough emphasis on making sure you're protecting yourself from hits like that." Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar did not believe either hit was that type of situation where the players weren't protecting themselves. "I think in both cases, different scenarios, to me I look at it both guys just going back into tough areas of the ice and they're willing in both those scenarios to take a hit to make the play," Bednar told Flynn on Friday when asked about the hits. "I think it's different from guys bailing out or turning their backs. I just feel like in those scenarios that we just saw with those guys getting hurt, it's guys knowing that they want to make the play and if they have to take a hit to do so then they're willing to do that." If you look at it, the roles could have been reversed and have been. In any given game for the Avalanche, Cale Makar gets run into from opponents trying to get him off the puck — same with any player with the puck in any game. What has changed, which is likely a contributing factor to some of those injuries, is the speed of the game. Hits are more intensive when a player is skating in to check at a higher speed. "We have to be physical. We have a lot of big bodies here including myself, lot of new guys are big guys. I feel like the game gets easier for us when we're being more physical and we pump into guys," Mikko Rantanen told Flynn on Friday. "Not every game you have to run a guy through the third row like what Nate did last game it was a great check. Just a little physicality at some point it brings you more offense when you don't have to defend as well." That type of physicality is part of the game and injuries are always possible. Colton and MacKinnon just so happened to be the latest players involved in those situations. But that won't change the way they play their game, nor should it. RELATED LINKS Avalanche's discipline is key to success against Sabres [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/news/avalanches-discipline-is-key-to-success-against-sabres] 'It's the defending side of it that's hurting us': Why Avalanche need to stay on top of pucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/news/why-avalanche-need-to-stay-on-top-of-pucks]
