Avalanche lose defenceman Tyson Barrie for 4 to 6 weeks with knee injury from Matt Cooke hit

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Colorado Avalanche defenceman Tyson Barrie will miss the rest of the first-round playoff series against Minnesota and more.

Coach Patrick Roy said after the Wild's 1-0 overtime win on Monday that Barrie has a medial collateral ligament injury in his left knee and will need four to six weeks to recover. Barrie was hurt in the second period when Wild left wing Matt Cooke delivered a knee-on-knee hit on the open ice.

Roy said the play warranted more punishment than Cooke's two-minute minor penalty. The coach expressed confidence the NHL will discipline Cooke, who has a history of suspensions, for the hit. Roy called it the "play of the game," lamenting the loss of his team's best offensive defenceman.

Barrie had 13 goals and 25 assists in the regular season.