Avalanche’s Nazem Kadri to Miss Time with Finger Injury, Playoff Hopes Remain

Nazem Kadri, the Colorado Avalanche forward, will be sidelined for an unspecified number of games due to a finger injury, head coach Jared Bednar confirmed. The team is optimistic about his return before the playoffs, with just five games left in the regular season.

Having already secured the Central Division title and the top seed in the Western Conference, the Avalanche are now eyeing the Presidents’ Trophy, awarded to the team with the best overall record in the NHL. A victory over the Calgary Flames would solidify that honor.

Kadri sustained the injury during a 3-1 victory against the St. Louis Blues. Since his acquisition from the Flames in a trade deadline deal on March 6, he has contributed four goals and five assists in 16 games. The 35-year-old forward was a key player in Colorado’s triumphant run to the Stanley Cup title in 2022.

In addition to Kadri’s absence, the Avalanche will also be without defenseman Cale Makar, who is missing his fifth consecutive game due to an upper-body injury. Makar did participate in practice, donning a red, non-contact jersey, a sign of hope for his eventual return.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.