Jordan Leopold had to wait two months before getting in his first five games with the Avalanche. The worrisome question facing Leopold and the Avs now is: How long before he plays in his next game?
Leopold suffered what is likely a serious groin injury in the third period of Monday’s 5-2 Avalanche victory over Carolina. The Avs did not provide a prognosis for Leopold on Tuesday, however, saying he was still undergoing tests to determine the injury’s severity.
Whether the injury is related to the sports hernia injury that kept the defenseman on the shelf the first two months of the season is unclear, although the team said early indications are that it is not.
“He went through a long healing process here. Hopefully it’s not to that same severity,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “Hopefully, it’s just short-term.”
Leopold had to be wheeled into the Avalanche’s X-ray room after the game, and he held a pair of crutches.
“He played well in his short stint here. Hopefully, it’s not too extensive,” Quenneville said.
Hejduk OK
Avalanche right wing Milan Hejduk, who missed Monday’s game after a minor surgical procedure to his nose, expects to play tonight against St. Louis.
Hejduk will need to wear a full facial shield, however, perhaps for the next several weeks. Hejduk had much of the skin from the left side of his nose completely torn off after a collision along the boards in Saturday’s game in Los Angeles.
“They had to replace the skin there,” Hejduk said. “The (full) shield is just a little foggier, but other than that it’s not a big deal.”
Hejduk is already being kidded about his new shield, which has breathing holes at the bottom. He said teammate Antti Laaksonen has given him the new nickname “Hannibal Lecter.”
Budaj in net again
The Avalanche’s top goalie job appears to belong to Peter Budaj again – for now, anyway.
Budaj will start his second straight game tonight against the Blues.
Sympathy for Kitchen
Quenneville was saddened to see his former assistant coach with the Blues, Mike Kitchen, fired Monday as the head coach. The two are close friends.
“It’s a tough time for him right now,” Quenneville said. “It’s always a tough thing, and it was his first time. But he’ll recover and be fine.”
Andy Murray replaced Kitchen.
Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com. Avs Mailbag: Adrian Dater answers your pressing NHL questions each Wednesday. denverpost.com/avalanche
