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Avs without Duchene, Landeskog in key battle for playoff spot

Los Angeles Kings v Colorado Avalanche

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 20: Captain Gabriel Landeskog #92 and Matt Duchene #9 of the Colorado Avalanche warm up prior to facing the Los Angeles Kings during their preseason game at the Pepsi Center on September 20, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Kings 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

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Colorado heads into tonight’s action sitting one point clear of idle Minnesota in the battle for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference, and could expand its cushion to three points with a win.

Won’t be easy, though.

The Avs will be without two of their three leading scorers tonight in Calgary -- Matt Duchene is out with a knee issue, while Gabriel Landeskog is serving the last of a three-game suspension.

It goes without saying that the losses are huge. Duchene is enjoying a really good year, and leads the team with 29 goals and 56 points. Landeskog, the club’s captain, is fourth in assists (29) and third in points (46).

With Duchene out, Carl Soderberg could see an increased workload at center, and it’s likely that Nathan MacKinnon will pick up some middle man duties as well.

Landeskog is eligible to return Sunday in Edmonton. If Duchene’s injury extends into next week, he could be in danger of missing Colorado’s massive game against the Wild on Saturday, Mar. 26.