MacKinnon is two weeks into a 2-4 week timetable, so he appears to be right on track in his recovery. The next step is for MacKinnon to ditch the no-contact sweater, which could happen later this week. MacKinnon will need a few practices before he’s set to return to the lineup.
It looks like the Avalanche avoided disaster here as MacKinnon’s shoulder injury is only expected to sideline him for about one week. The Avalanche likely won’t disclose a full timetable until Thursday but the preliminary indications are positive. MacKinnon won’t play Thursday but has not officially been ruled out for Saturday’s game.
MacKinnon was hurt in Tuesday’s overtime loss in Vancouver and won’t play in Edmonton. This is a horrible loss for the Avalanche, who have been absolutely carried by MacKinnon since the Matt Duchene trade. Since then, MacKinnon leads the NHL with 49 points (21G / 28A) in 36 games. It sounds like he is more day-to-day than long-term so monitor his status heading into the weekend.
Blackwood, 21, was a second round pick (No.42 overall) in 2015 and has earned a call-up because Cory Schneider (lower-body) and Keith Kinkaid (groin) are both hurt. Blackwood, who has gone 5-12-0 with a 3.64 GAA and .877 SV% in 23 games with Binghamton, will backup Ken Appleby on Thursday.
Schwartz, who has been sidelined since December 9th, has been medically cleared to return and it looks like he’ll be back on Thursday. The Blues have gone 8-10-1 while averaging just 2.16 goals per game since Schwartz was sidelined.
Kadri has missed the last two games with an upper-body injury that he suffered last Thursday in Arizona. Kadri was back centring a line with Patrick Marleau and Leo Komarov on his wings. Kadri isn’t having the same offensive season he had a year ago, but has 13 goals and 10 assists in 38 games—putting him on-pace for 27 goals and 21 assists (48 points) in 80 games.
Wedgewood allowed three goals on 37 shots in the Coyotes loss in Chicago on December 10th. Antti Raanta started the last three games but Wedgewood will start the front-end of the Coyotes back-to-back tonight. In his first start vs. the Capitals, Wedgewood allowed three goals on 40 shots in a 3-2 OT loss.
Hinostroza has been great in Rockford this season, scoring nine goals with 13 assists (22 points) in 23 games. The 23-year-old has 14 points (6G/ 8A) in 56 career NHL games and will make his season debut tonight vs. the Sabres. The Blackhawks did not announce who he will replace in the lineup, but look for him to take Lance Bouma’ spot in the bottom-6.
