Colton is expected to miss 6-8 weeks due to a broken foot, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports Wednesday.
That brings an unfortunate disruption to Colton's tremendous start to the campaign -- he has eight goals and nine points through 10 appearances. Colton was seeing time on the top line since the Avalanche have been dealing with numerous forward injuries. Now that Colton is among those on the shelf, Nikolai Kovalenko might start playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, though Kovalenko will likely concede that role once Jonathan Drouin (upper body), who hasn't played since Oct. 9 but is now day-to-day, is ready to return.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Set to miss significant time
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Head coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday that he expects Colton (foot) to miss "significant time," Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette reports.
While Bednar doesn't yet have a clear return timetable for Colton, it sounds as though the 28-year-old will be out for an extended period after landing on injured reserve Tuesday. Colton's injury adds to a lengthy list of absences for the Avalanche, and T.J. Tynan was called up Wednesday to provide additional depth. Nikolai Kovalenko and Ivan Ivan are also candidates to see increased roles while Colton is unavailable.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Lands on IR
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Colton (foot) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, per the NHL media site.
Colton suffered the injury in Monday's 5-2 loss to Chicago. He has compiled eight goals, one assist, 37 shots on net, nine blocked shots and 28 hits across 10 appearances this season. A timetable for Colton's return is unclear, but he will miss at least the next two games following his placement on the IR list. If Jonathan Drouin (upper body) and Artturi Lehkonen (shoulder) remain out versus Tampa Bay on Wednesday, Nikolai Kovalenko might move up to the top line, and Ivan Ivan could get an increase in power-play time.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Injured on Monday
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Colton is facing an extended absence after blocking a shot and injuring his foot in Monday's matchup versus Chicago, according to Evan Rawal of the Denver Gazette.
Colton was seen leaving the game in a walking boot, and head coach Jared Bednar said "He's going to miss some time." The injury comes at an inopportune time for Colton and the Avalanche alike -- the left-shot forward leads the team in goals with eight through 10 contests. Colorado is dealing with multiple injuries to its forward group, so expect the club to recall a player from the AHL to replace Colton on the roster in the interim.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Good to go
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Colton (hand) will play Sunday against Ottawa, Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reports.
Colton won't miss additional action after being injured in Thursday's 5-1 win over Utah. He has generated seven goals, one assist, 28 shots on net and 25 hits through eight appearances this season. Colton will play on the top line and first power-play unit versus the Senators.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Exits with upper-body injury
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Colton (upper body) won't return to Thursday's game versus Utah.
Colton scored a power-play goal on three shots in 11:07 of ice time prior to his exit. He joins a growing list of injured Avalanche forwards, though it's not yet known how much time he might miss. Prior to his injury, Colton has been filling in on the Avalanche's top line and first power-play unit, which has led to him producing seven goals and one assist over eight appearances.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Another two-goal game
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Colton scored twice on four shots and added two hits in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Sharks.
Colton potted two goals for the second game in a row. He opened the scoring with a power-play marker and added another at even strength about 10 minutes later. The 28-year-old has six goals, one assist, 22 shots on net, 20 hits and a minus-2 rating through six contests. He's thriving in a top-line role alongside Nathan MacKinnon, and Colton has a good chance to stay in that spot until the Avalanche get some injured forwards back.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Keeps rolling with two goals
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Colton scored twice on five shots in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Ducks.
Colton led the comeback charge in the third period, scoring the game-tying goal on the power play and adding a go-ahead tally at even strength. The 28-year-old has steadily moved up the lineup with the Avalanche managing multiple injuries to forwards. Colton has four goals, one assist, 18 shots on net, 18 hits and a minus-3 rating through five contests. The physical forward has earned three of his points with the man advantage, and if he can keep his power-play production strong, he could be setting the tone for a career year.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Produces two points in loss
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Colton scored a goal on three shots, added an assist and logged two hits in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Blue Jackets.
Colton had a power-play assist in the second period and an even-strength goal in the third. The 28-year-old forward was held off the scoresheet in the season opener Wednesday versus the Golden Knights. Colton has a chance to play in a top-six role as long as Jonathan Drouin (upper body) is out. In the long run, Colton can be a useful forward in fantasy thanks to his physicality, especially after producing a career-high 40 points over 80 regular-season outings last year.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Hands out helper in loss
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Colton supplied an assist, five hits and two blocked shots in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Stars in Game 2.
Colton snapped a three-game dry spell with the helper. He's up to four points, 12 shots on net, 27 hits, eight blocked shots and a plus-2 rating over seven playoff contests. Colton remains in a third-line role, and he's seeing more limited usage in the postseason. The 27-year-old can offer supplementary offense and plenty of physicality, however.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Adds insurance marker
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Colton scored a goal on two shots and added two hits in Friday's 6-2 win over the Jets in Game 3.
Colton is riding a five-game point streak with two goals and three assists in that span. He has a goal and two helpers during the playoffs, and he's added seven shots on net, 11 hits and a plus-1 rating over those three contests. He remains in a third-line role, but he poses a threat as a depth scorer when the Avalanche's offense is humming as it has been in this series (17 goals over three games).
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Slides helper
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Colton logged an assist, three shots on goal and four hits in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Jets in Game 1.
Colton has earned five points over the last seven games. The 27-year-old remains in a third-line role, so his chances to be a consistent contributor on offense are likely to be limited in the postseason unless injuries force him into a larger role. Colton had a career-high 40 points with 146 shots on net, 141 hits, 61 PIM and a minus-8 rating over 80 regular-season appearances.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Opens scoring in OT loss
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Colton scored a goal during Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Golden Knights.
Colton opened the scoring with his 17th goal of the season. The 27-year-old tied his career high of 39 points with that tally. Colton is providing depth scoring as the Avs brace for the postseason, but his production has come inconsistently in a middle-six role.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Finds twine in loss
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Colton scored a goal on two shots and added four hits in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Oilers.
Colton snapped a five-game point drought with his first-period marker, but that was the Avalanche's last goal of the game. The 27-year-old has been less consistent on offense since Casey Mittelstadt was acquired from the Sabres to center the second line, bumping Colton down the lineup. Colton has 16 goals, 37 points, 138 shots on net, 136 hits and a minus-10 rating over 75 appearances.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Tallies in Friday's win
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Colton scored a goal on two shots and added four hits in Friday's 6-1 win over the Blue Jackets.
Colton has two goals over six contests since the Avalanche acquired Casey Mittelstadt from the Sabres. Predictably, a drop out of the top six has taken a bite out of Colton's offense, though he did have the game-winning tally Friday. The 27-year-old is up to 15 goals, 35 points, 128 shots on net, 125 hits, 59 PIM and a minus-5 rating through 68 appearances. He can match his career high with five more points, though that may be a bit tougher to do from the third line over the last 12 contests of the season.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Nets equalizer Wednesday
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Colton scored a goal in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Canucks.
Colton tied the game at 3-3 with a tally at 8:43 of the third period. The 27-year-old has produced four points over his last seven contests. He's still seeing middle-six usage, but the Avalanche's trade for Casey Mittelstadt at the deadline likely means Colton will feature more on the third line going forward. For the season, Colton has 14 tallies, 34 points, 121 shots on net, 116 hits, 59 PIM and a minus-2 rating through 65 appearances.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Back at practice
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Colton (illness) participated in practice Monday, Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now reports.
Colton, who didn't skate Sunday, should be available for Tuesday's matchup against Calgary. He has produced 13 goals, 33 points and 113 hits in 63 contests this campaign.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Battling illness
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Colton (illness) is dealing with an illness but will travel with the Avalanche on the team's upcoming road trip, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.
Colton is one of a handful of Avs suffering from an illness that's made its way through the locker room, though he appears to be trending towards suiting up Tuesday in Calgary. The 27-year-old forward has three points (one goal, two assists) in his last five contests and 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in 63 games this season.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Puts up helper in win
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Colton logged an assist, three shots on goal, four hits and two blocked shots in Monday's 5-0 win over the Blackhawks.
Colton saw just 10:56 of ice time Monday, but with the Avalanche winning easily, this may have been a tactic for head coach Jared Bednar to get the 27-year-old some rest. Colton hasn't been as sharp lately, picking up just two points over his last seven outings. The American forward is at 32 points, 116 shots on net, 110 hits, 55 PIM and a minus-1 rating through 61 contests in a middle-six role.
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Avalanche's Ross Colton: Dishes two assists
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Colton provided a pair of assists, including one on the power play, and went plus-2 in Friday's 5-1 win over the Kings.
Colton has served as a playmaker with six helpers over the last three games. He helped out on goals by Logan O'Connor and Cale Makar in this contest. Colton is up to 26 points, 87 shots on net, 64 hits, 45 PIM and a plus-2 rating through 47 outings overall. He'll likely continue to provide supporting offense in a top-six role.
