The Avalanche will continue its playoff push without top-two leading scorers Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon for at least the next two games, coach Patrick Roy said Tuesday after practice.
The Avs, who have nine remaining games, host Philadelphia on Thursday and Minnesota on Saturday. for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.
Roy said Duchene and MacKinnon — both suffering from a knee injury and not skating — will be reevaluated before the team departs for a two-game trip beginning Monday at Nashville. Roy said both are unavailable on a “week-to-week” basis.
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Duchene leads Colorado with 29 goals and 56 points. MacKinnon has 21 goals and 52 points, both second on the team. The Avs are 2-0 without Duchene, who was injured last week at Vancouver, and 1-0 without MacKinnon, who went down Friday at Calgary. The both played every game before their injuries.
Roy also said Semyon Varlamov is the scheduled starter in goal against the Flyers and Wild and rookie Mikko Rantanen will remain with the team for at least the next two games. Rantanen has played in seven NHL games this season, and if he appears in a 10th he will burn the first year of his entry-level contract.
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or @mikechambers
