Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon won't play in All-Star game after injury

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Cam Lewis | Last updated 1/30/22

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon won’t be playing in the upcoming All-Star Game, according to Peter Baugh of The Athletic.

Back on Wednesday, MacKinnon was carrying the puck out of his zone when Taylor Hall of the Boston Bruins clipped him in the face with a high hit.

Nathan MacKinnon left the ice after a big hit from Taylor Hall.

In the end, Hall received a two-minute penalty for interference. pic.twitter.com/dVIn1etL8W
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 27, 2022

MacKinnon’s face was covered in blood after the hit and he left the game and didn’t return. Hall was assessed a two-minute minor for interference and didn’t receive any disciplinary action from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.

On Friday, the Avs announced that MacKinnon suffered a facial fracture and a concussion in the incident and could miss three games. MacKinnon has since undergone surgery on his nose and he won’t be ready to return to game action until after the All-Star break.

MacKinnon was named captain of the Central Division team. Through 31 games this season, MacKinnon has nine goals and 43 points. As of Sunday morning, the Avs sit at the top of the league’s standings in terms of points percentage with a 31-8-3 record.

The All-Star Game will be played in Las Vegas on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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