DENVER -- Colorado winger Chris Stewart broke his left hand during a second-period fight Saturday night with the Minnesota Wild's Kyle Brodziak, Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said after Colorado's 7-4 victory.
Stewart and Brodziak exchanged heated blows on the ice and Stewart at times struck Brodziak's helmet with his fist before the helmet came off. Brodziak, who scored two goals for the Wild, was not injured.
Stewart did not return to the game. He has a team-high 11 goals and also has 14 assists in 23 games this season.
"Hockey is a game of emotion and things happen during the course of a game," Sacco said. "Of course, you wish it didn't happen. You never want to lose any player. And Chris is a big part of this team. But we'll deal with injuries as they come. Somebody else will have to step up."
