Avs' MacKinnon out 1-2 weeks with lower-body injury

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon will be sidelined for one-to-two weeks due to a lower-body injury suffered Tuesday, the team announced.

The specifics of the ailment are unclear. MacKinnon exited during the second period against the Los Angeles Kings and did not return.

The Avalanche are primed to make the playoffs, but MacKinnon's absence is a devastating blow to their pursuit of the Central Division crown. Colorado is two points back of the St. Louis Blues for the top spot with a game in hand, but key skaters Mikko Rantanen, Nazem Kadri, Andre Burakovsky, and starting goaltender Philipp Grubauer are also sidelined.

On a positive note, rookie sensation Cale Makar will return to the lineup Wednesday after missing five games with an upper-body injury.

MacKinnon is once again playing at an MVP-level this season, ranking fifth in league scoring with 93 points in 69 games.