The injuries are beginning to pile up for the Colorado Avalanche.
Head coach Jared Bednar announced Saturday that the Avalanche will be without forward Nathan MacKinnon for a month, while defenceman Cale Makar is set to miss two weeks of action while the two stars work their way back from a pair of lower-body injuries.
Both MacKinnon and Makar were hurt during the second period of Colorado’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.
MacKinnon, 31, exited after taking a crosscheck in the hip from Sens defenceman Artem Zub.
The Halifax, N.S. native appeared to be in significant pain while returning to the bench and did not return to the contest.
Makar, 28, was forced out of the game after he appeared to favour his right leg while skating in the offensive zone.
The two-time Norris Trophy winner attempted to plant his right leg while collecting the puck before pulling up lame and heading down to the dressing room.
Makar would return for a short 25-second shift in the frame, but the Calgary native would shut things down after that and would not take the ice for the third period.
MacKinnon has registered 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points on the year so far, while Makar has added five goals and 18 helpers for 23 points - the third-highest among NHL defencemen.
The Avalanche enter play Saturday in third place in the Central Division with a 11-6-3 record.
They will close out their Eastern Canada road swing against the Montreal Canadiens Saturday night before travelling to Utah to take on the Mammoth on Wednesday to end their four-game road trip.