Avs get the worst possible injury news on Nathan MacKinnon

In case you missed it this past weekend, Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon absolutely DUSTED Minnesota Wild defender Matt Dumba in a scrap after Dumba dropped MacKinnon's teammate Mikko Rantanen with a big open ice hit.

Check out this entire insane sequence:

That was a big time tilt and, quite frankly, entertaining as Hell.

There's just one problem...

Big Nate Mack injured his hand in the scrap and head coach Jared Bednar announced today that MacKinnon has left the team to diagnose a potential hand injury.

That's got to be the most concerning news you could ever read if you're an Avs fan. Here you have a powerhouse team that's failed to push through in the playoffs the past few years and now your superstar player, your leader on and off the ice is out of the lineup because of a completely preventable injury? Ouch. 

More from Mike Chambers of The Denver Post:

Avalanche top-line center Nathan MacKinnon won’t play in Tuesday’s showdown against the Calgary Flames because of an upper-body injury, the team said.

MacKinnon, who returned to Denver to be further examined, could have sustained a hand injury from Sunday’s fight in Minnesota against Wild defenseman Matt Dumba.

“Possibly could be stemming from the fight,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said after the morning skate at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

When asked what level of concern the team has about the injury, Bednar said, “High.”

- Mike Chambers

Double ouch. I can't imagine what Avs fans are feeling right now.

Here's hoping that it's nothing serious and that MacKinnon's hand heals up sooner rather than later. Suffice it to say that it would be an absolute DISASTER if he were to miss significant time due to injury. Add in the fact that it can take weeks or months to get your touch back after a hand injury and there's even more reason to hope for a speedy recovery. 

MacKinnon has 22 goals and 70 points in 51 games for the powerhouse Avalanche this season.