MacKinnon's status uncertain with Avalanche season on brink in Western Final

LAS VEGAS -- It would take a lot for Nathan MacKinnon to be unavailable for the Colorado Avalanche with their season on the line, but that may be the case in Game 4 of the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS, CBC).

The center’s status is uncertain after he was injured in the second period of Game 3 on Sunday, a 5-3 loss here that has Colorado, which won the Presidents’ Trophy as the top team in the regular season (55-16-11, 121 points), trailing 3-0 in the best-of-7 series.

MacKinnon leads the Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in goals (seven) and points (15) in 12 games after leading the NHL with 53 goals during the regular season. Colorado forward Valeri Nichushkin is also questionable after he sustained a lower-body injury late in the second on Sunday.

“I don’t have any updates,” coach Jared Bednar said Monday. “Those guys are getting treatments, they’re getting evaluated. It could be tomorrow morning before we know, it could be game time before we know, so we’ll just plan for all scenarios.”

MacKinnon was injured at 12:15 of the second period when he blocked a shot from Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore that appeared to get him on the inside of his right knee. MacKinnon crumpled to the ice for a moment, was able to get to his knees to clear the puck out of the zone but then went back to his knees. He was able to get to the bench and play two more shifts before going to the locker room.

He was not on the bench to start the third period but did return. MacKinnon played four shifts for a total of 4:05 in the third, including 1:59 on the power play.

“Everyone’s seen the play. The shot hits him in the knee and that can be traumatizing, especially early on,” Bednar said. “There are things that the trainers can do to try and get that feeling better and loosen up and get him to a spot where he can play unencumbered. It’s about how fast we can get him there and get him out there.

“He was clearly in a ton of pain. I’ve been here 10 years and I’ve seen Nate lay on the ice twice. I’ve seen him leave a couple games, one in the playoffs against San Jose a couple of years ago and last night, and still come back and it’s not a great feeling for a team. For him to be able to come back out, get some work done late in the second period and intermission and to be able to come back and help us on the power play and empty-net situations, if that’s all he can do, then we’ll take it. It’s better than anything else we can put on the ice, in my opinion. It just shows his character, his leadership and desire to win.” 

MacKinnon finished Game 3 with one assist and five shots on goal in 18:02 of ice time. He played 21:32 in Game 1 and 22:30 in Game 2.

With or without MacKinnon, it will take an extraordinary effort for Colorado to avoid elimination and advance. Teams that fall behind 3-0 in a best-of-7 series in the round prior to the Stanley Cup Final are 0-49 all-time. Only four teams have come back to win a playoff series being down 3-0 (4-213).

“Obviously, it’s tough when you lose a player like that,” Avalanche forward Martin Necas said. “We’ll see if he’s going to be good or not, but (either) way we’re going to give our best.

“Missing a player like that is huge, a huge loss, but there’s nothing we can do about it. You’ve just got to step up.”

Seeing MacKinnon come back in Game 3 impressed his teammates, but it was hardly surprising.

“You see a guy like that laying it on the line, just kind of doing whatever it takes,” center Brock Nelson said. “I feel like we say that all the time when people ask about Nate, his mentality, his mindset, preparation. He’s not going to leave anything to chance, and then same in his performance on the ice. He does whatever it takes, whatever is called upon him. He impacts the game in a lot of different ways.

“To see him go down, obviously you kind of hold your breath, but you also know that he’s a warrior and a competitor and it's going to take a lot to keep him out.”

Still, there’s uncertainty as to whether MacKinnon, who was plus-57 and finished third in scoring (127 points) this season behind only Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (138 points; 48 goals, 90 assists) and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (130 points; 44 goals, 86 assists), will be able to play Tuesday.

But those around MacKinnon know he will do everything he can to be in the lineup.

“That’s one of my favorite things about playing with (MacKinnon). Regular season, playoffs, it doesn’t matter what it is, he is a tough, tough guy, a competitor,” defenseman Josh Manson said. “I know that whatever happens to him, if he can’t go it is because he cannot go. He is going to do everything in his power to play, to stay in the game, to help our team win. That’s just the type of player he is.

“That’s one of the biggest reasons why I love following him as a leader, I know I’m getting that. He’s got to play.”