On the Avalanche’s last drill Monday, and on the same day top defenseman Erik Johnson resumed practicing with the team, young defenseman Nikita Zadorov became tangled with forward Mikko Rantanen, fell to the ice and required assistance to get to the trainers’ room because of a leg injury.
Hours later, Colorado announced Zadorov had suffered a fractured ankle and will be out for the season — just as Johnson is making his long-awaited return from a broken leg.
Zadorov, 21, has played in all but one game this season and leads the Avs in hits with 153. His is averaging 19:02 in ice time but was in the mid-20s for most of the last month.
“He got tangled up with Mikko and actually fell on top of Mikko, but his leg got trapped underneath Mikko and (he) fell awkwardly,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said immediately after practice.
The Avs are now down to a minimum six defensemen and will probably recall a player from the American Hockey League. Bednar will address the media Tuesday morning.
Rantanen, 20, and the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Zadorov are among Colorado’s primary building blocks for a team that is likely to get an overhaul in the offseason. Rantanen, 6-4, 212 pounds, also was injured during the 1-on-1 drill near the end of practice. He gathered himself on the bench for a few minutes before returning to the ice.
“I think I fell first, and then he fell on me,” Rantanen said. “But I don’t know what happened, exactly. He’s a heavy guy.”
Johnson, meanwhile, completed his first full practice with the team since suffering a broken leg Dec. 6. Johnson has not been cleared to play and was not made available to the media. But he could return this week — perhaps Thursday at Nashville or Saturday against visiting Buffalo. The Avs host Los Angeles on Tuesday.
“We’ll just see what tomorrow brings. He’s had some days where he’s felt real good and others not. Seems to be on the right path,” Bednar said of Johnson.
Johnson wore a red (injured) sweater along with forward Rene Bourque, who is recovering from a concussion. Bourque left practice early and is not expected to play this week.
Rantanen scored in Sunday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Tampa Bay and has 10 points (seven goals) in his last 12 games. The Finn is ninth in NHL rookie scoring.
“It feels good out there,” Rantanen said. “I feel comfortable, and confidence is good right now. I’m trying to keep it up and play simple — put pucks to the net, get more shots on goal.”
He added, “I don’t have any nerves anymore.”
Spotlight on Anze Kopitar. The Kings’ veteran center and first-year team captain has just six goals this season and has just one point and a minus-6 rating in his past six games. Kopitar leads Los Angeles with 27 assists but he’s tied for 10th in goals. Kopitar, 29, became captain last summer, taking the ‘C’ from forward Dustin Brown, who wore it for eight seasons and helped lead the Kings to two Stanley Cups.
Kings: They lost their third consecutive game Sunday, 1-0 at Anaheim. The Kings are 1-5 in their last six games and 5-5 in their last 10. … Defensemen Jake Muzzin and Alec Martinez are a minus-8 and minus-11, respectively, in their past six games. On the season, Muzzin has a team-worst minus-17 rating and Martinez is tied for second-worst at minus-15. … Peter Budaj, the former Avalanche goalie, has eight shutouts, including back-to-back blankings Feb. 1 and Feb. 4 against Colorado and at Philadelphia.
Avalanche: Calvin Pickard will get the start in net, his third consecutive. Pickard and the Avs are 1-0-1 in their last two games since snapping a five-game losing streak. … Colorado is 1-1 against the Kings, winning 4-1 in Denver on Nov. 15 and losing 5-0 at L.A. on Feb. 1. … Forward Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Mark Barberio played street hockey with 70 athletes from the Special Olympics Colorado on Monday afternoon at the Pepsi Center. February is Hockey is for Everyone month.
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