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Roy estimates Duchene (oblique) will miss about a week

Colorado Avalanche v Nashville Predators

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 02: Matt Duchene #9 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates after scoring a goal against the Nashville Predators at the Bridgestone Arena on April 2, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

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Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy was told that Matt Duchene will miss approximately one week with an oblique injury, the Denver Post’s Adrian Dater reports.

“We will hope it’s not more than that, but (Duchene) said he would need about a week,” Roy said.

Dater believes that 2013 top pick Nathan MacKinnon will slide into a top-six role with Duchene on the shelf.

Seeing a bright prospect in a more positive role is the good side. The bad is that the Avalanche are already on a three-game losing streak without Duchene. What happens without the 22-year-old star?

Colorado’s schedule is brutal for the next couple weeks:

Tuesday: vs. Chicago
Thursday: at Phoenix
Nov. 23: at Los Angeles
Nov. 27: vs. St. Louis
Nov. 29-30: home-and-home against Minnesota

Even with Duchene, that’s a rough stretch. The Avs have to hope he can get back by Nov. 27 or so, then.

In other Colorado news, defenseman Tyson Barrie was recalled from the AHL. They can use all the help they can get.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins