Nathan MacKinnon injury update: Avalanche All-Star leaves match after collision with Bruins’ Taylor Hall
Avalanche All-Star striker Nathan MacKinnon received a blow from Bruins forward Taylor Hall that left him bleeding on Wednesday night.
Just over two minutes after Colorado’s game against Boston in Denver, Hall stretched his left shoulder and collided with MacKinnon on the Avs blue line. The blow sent MacKinnon’s stick straight into his face. MacKinnon grabbed him by the head before blood began to flow across the ice. Instructors flocked to attend with him.
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MacKinnon was able to skate with coaches. He headed straight into the changing room as both couches made noise for him.
Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog responded to the blow by shoving Hall into the planks in front of the Boston bench. Landeskog also arrives at Hall later in the game, squeezing him into the board until an official separates them.
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Initially, Hall was given a 5-minute main penalty, but after officials reviewed the play, he was given a 2-minute penalty for meddling.
Avs announced after the end of the first period that MacKinnon had an upper body injury and would not return. The team has not provided updates on the severity of the injury. MacKinnon played two shifts and about 56 seconds before he was hit in the head with a stick.
About nine minutes after MacKinnon dropped down, Kurtis MacDermid scored to give Colorado a 1-0 lead. Boston, though, came back in the second half and scored three goals in about six minutes. The Bruins lead 3-1 after two innings.
Avalanche rebounded with two goals in the third half – the second by Landeskog at 19:23 with an additional attacker on the ice – to tie the game 3-3 and force overtime. All-Star defender CaIe Makar then won it for the Central Division-leading Avs with a stunning 3:01 goal in extra time. Colorado has now won eight in a row.
MacKinnon was named captain of the Central Division team for the February 5 All-Star Game in Las Vegas.
