Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon (leg/hip bruise) questionable at Florida

SUNRISE, Fla. — Star center Nathan MacKinnon will be a game-time choice Friday as soon as the Avalanche plays the Florida Panthers. MacKinnon endured a deep bruise on his leg/hip at Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime loss at Pittsburgh and didn’t take part in Friday’s morning skate.

“His leg’s sore. He got struck there the other night by (Patric) Hornqvist,” Avs coach Jared Bednar stated. “I offer him lots of credit — I understand he was hurting on the bench the whole match and that he battled through it and ends up with us a huge target in the next period and contains a great third period for us. However he’s questionable (tonight). ”

MacKinnon has played in all 82 matches of the 3 decades in a couple. When he doesn’t perform against the Panthers, Nazem Kadri will step to the function. Third-line center J.T. Compher will slide to the next line and replace MacKinnon on the No. 1 power-play unit.

Valeri Nichushkin, a healthy scratch at Pittsburgh, will play a fourth-line part if MacKinnon doesn’t create the lineup.

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Defenseman Nikita Zadorov is back in the lineup after being scraped against the Penguins. He’ll replace Mark Barberio.

In goal, Philipp Grubauer can make his sixth start of the year but Bednar stated he go with backup Pavel Francouz on Saturday if the Avs finish a yearlong set at Tampa Bay.

Jared Bednar later AM skate at FLA #Avs //t.co/JyYKntl36V

— Mike Chambers (@MikeChambers) October 18, 2019

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