Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon was forced to leave Monday night’s playoff game against the Minnesota Wild after taking a puck to the face late in the second period.
The incident occurred when teammate Devon Toews attempted to clear the puck from the defensive zone but inadvertently fired it into MacKinnon’s face. The forward immediately dropped to the ice and was attended to by trainers, who used a towel to cover his bloodied mouth.
May 11, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) looks on during the first period in game four of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Minnesota Wild at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
MacKinnon managed to skate to the locker room under his own power, with blood also visible inside his visor from the impact. The game was tied 1-1 at the time of his exit. MacKinnon finished the regular season with 127 points, leading the NHL with 53 goals.
