MacKinnon Returns To Denver For Evaluation

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon has returned to Denver to have his upper-body injury further examined and won't play Thursday versus the Edmonton Oilers.
Head coach Jared Bednar said on his weekly radio show with Altitude Sports AM 950 on Wednesday morning that MacKinnon is listed as day-to-day.

"Hopefully it's not that serious, and we can get him back in the lineup here soon," Bednar said. "I guess it depends on what you classify as serious. Every game without him is not good, but hopefully he can get healthy and get back in and join us here soon."
MacKinnon left Tuesday's game in Vancouver with 6:04 left in the second period after he collided with the Canucks' Alexander Edler near the end boards. He went to the locker room to be evaluated and was later ruled out of returning to the contest.
"He's going to get reevaluated today, and we'll see how he is and go from there," Bednar said on the radio show. "The first indication is it is not real serious. He may miss a game or two or three, you just don't know how long it will be… It certainly could be worse."
MacKinnon recorded an assist and had a plus-2 rating prior to leaving Tuesday's contest, bringing his season point total to 61--second most in the league this year. The five-year veteran's 24 goals on the year already ties his career high, while his 37 assists are two shy of his personal best, both of which he set during his Calder Trophy-winning campaign as a rookie in 2013-14.
The 22-year-old represented the Avalanche at the NHL All-Star Game last weekend.

On Wednesday, the Avs made two transactions with the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League. Colorado recalled forward A.J. Greer and reassigned defenseman David Warsofsky.
Greer's call-up is to add forward depth for the Avalanche for MacKinnon's and possibly Matt Nieto's absence. Nieto was a late scratch on Tuesday after suffering a lower-body injury during morning skate and is also day-to-day.
After the game in Edmonton, the Avs conclude their Western Canada swing and a stretch of six consecutive road games at the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night. Colorado returns home to host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday in a one-game homestay before going back out on the road for another three outings.