Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene to miss next two games

Colorado Avalanche Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene to miss next two games

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 4: Nathan MacKinnon (29) and Matt Duchene (9) of the Colorado Avalanche watch a replay of a disallowed Colorado goal during the 2nd period at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado on February 4, 2016. (Photo by Seth McConnell/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

The Colorado Avalanche will have to face the Flyers and the Wild this week without two of their top scorers in Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene.

In the midst of a playoff race, the Colorado Avalanche have been hanging onto the last wild card spot in the Western Conference despite constant pressure over the past few weeks by the Minnesota Wild. Entering March 22, the Avalanche have a one point lead over the Wild. Their road just got a bit tougher as they will be without Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene, two of their top scorers, for the next two games.

UPDATE: Nathan MacKinnon (knee) & Matt Duchene (knee) will miss the next two games. Their status will be reevaluated afterward.
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 22, 2016

The duo will miss the next two games. Colorado faces the Flyers on Thursday and the Wild on Saturday. The Avalanche will have to press on without them. Between the two centers, they have 50 goals, 58 assists, and 108 points. Nathan MacKinnon ranks second on the team in goals (21), third in assists (31), and second in points (52). Duchene, a 2016 All-Star, has 29 goals (first on the team), 27 assists (fifth on the team), and 56 points (first on the team).

Colorado will be relying heavily on centers Mikhail Grigorenko and Carl Soderberg to replace Nathan MacKinnon and Duchene. Grigorenko has 23 points (five goals and 18 assists) in 65 games this season while Soderberg has 47 points (12 goals and 35 assists).

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