The Colorado Avalanche have a chance to win their first round series against the Minnesota Wild in Game 6. That’s quite an accomplishment given that they’ve been missing leading scorer Matt Duchene (knee), but they might not have to get any further without him.
Duchene participated in his first full skate with the Avalanche on Saturday after returning to the ice Monday. He hasn’t played since March 29, but he seems poised to return on Monday.
“We’re going to take a serious look at it,” Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said.
During Duchene’s absence, 18-year-old forward Nathan MacKinnon has led the team with two goals and 10 points in the playoffs. The Avalanche are in this position because the rookie scored the overtime winner in Game 5.
In doing so, MacKinnon became the youngest player to net a game-winning overtime goal in the playoffs since Don Gallinger in 1943, per the Avalanche.