Good new for the Colorado Avalanche.
Superstar Nathan MacKinnon has cleared NHL coronavirus protocols is set to make his season debut Tuesday night against the Washington Capitals.
The Avalanche, who many predict will be the winner of the Stanley Cup in the spring of 2022, has a record on 1-1-0 and are without captain Gabriel Landeskog who serves a suspension for a low hit on Kirby Dach of the Chicago Blackhawks.
MacKinnon tested positive for the coronavirus last week ahead of the season opener and had been in the league’s COVID-19 protocols since Oct. 12. He needed to test negative twice to be cleared to rejoin the team and flew by himself to reunite with his temamates for the start of the Avalanche’s road trip on the East Coast.
This is a great boost for the Avalanche as MacKinnon finished eighth in the NHL with 65 points (20 goals, 45 assists) and was plus-22 in 48 games last season. He was third in voting for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP.
“Oh man, it was so exciting. … I didn’t think I’d even get two negatives,” MacKinnon said after joining his team, per NHL.com. “I thought I’d have to wait the 10 days and miss the first two games of the road trip and probably the third one too. It was my first skate this morning (in eight days) and pumped to play.”
We bet poolers are as excited too!
