DENVER – Colorado’s Andre Burakowski will not travel to Tampa on Sunday after suffering a 7-0 injury to Lightning 7-0 against Avelanche in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final on Saturday.
Coach Jared Bednar said Burakowski is still being evaluated and will join Avalanche in Tampa on Monday. Its availability for Game 3 remains unknown.
Burakowski left Saturday’s tilt early in the second period after taking a blow from Victor Hedman’s hand. This is the second injury Burakowski suffered in the post-season after he was forced to miss two games in the Western Conference final against Edmonton with a leg injury. Last week, Burakowski said he had only recently felt close to recovering from the problem, but was still taking regular days to support his workouts and morning skates.
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Avalanche are already playing with short arms in their top 6 as Nazem Kadri remains out after thumb surgery. He last played in game 3 of the conference finals and resumed pole vaulting last week. Bednar said on Sunday that Kadri would travel with the team to Tampa, but it is still considered every day.
“We hope to see him at some point,” Bednar said. “I’m not sure about game 3 or game 4 [though]”
Burakowski showed his best hockey from the playoffs after replacing Kadri on the second line of Avalanche. The Big Wing marked the winner of Colorado’s overtime in Game 1 and made the most of limited time to play in Game 2, scoring a key assist for Valery Nichushkin’s goal and scoring another. Burakowski already has three goals and eight points in 12 games since the season.
Bednar juggled again with his lines without Burakowski in Game 2, elevating Arturie Lekonen to second division with Miko Rantanen and JT Compher.
Colorado will wait and see if Burakowski will be able to play in Game 3 on Monday. Avalanche returned Andrew Coliano (finger) on Saturday to strengthen his depth ahead. If Burakowski is not available, Nikola Obe-Kubel will probably return to the squad after a solid scratch in Game 2.
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