Avs rule out Drouin for first-round series vs. Jets
Written by I Dig SportsDENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche will be without forward Jonathan Drouin for their first-round playoff series against Winnipeg due to a lower-body injury.
Drouin got hurt when he tripped in the second period Thursday against Edmonton. He skated off the ice and didn't return.
The Avalanche practiced Saturday morning before leaving for Winnipeg. Game 1 of the series is Sunday.
Drouin, 29, turned in a career season with 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists) after signing with Colorado as a free agent over the summer.
Drouin was typically on the same line as Mikko Rantanen and his good friend Nathan MacKinnon, who had a career-best 140 points this season.
Drafted third overall by Tampa Bay in 2013, Drouin has played in 564 career regular-season games, with 96 goals.
Colorado called up defenseman Brad Hunt, forward Chris Wagner and goaltender Arvid Holm on Saturday from the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League.