MacKinnon Hit by Puck, Returns to Score in Avs 5-2 Win

ST. PAUL, Minn. Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon left the ice with a bloody nose after being struck in the face by a puck from teammate Devon Toews late in the second period of Game 4 against the Minnesota Wild on Monday night.

Toews attempted to clear the puck from the crease toward the corner, but it struck MacKinnon directly. The league's regular-season leading goal scorer collapsed to his knees in pain. An athletic trainer quickly arrived, pressing a towel to his nose and assisting him off the ice. Blood covered MacKinnon's face and streamed down the inside of his visor as he headed to the tunnel for treatment shortly before the second intermission.

MacKinnon returned for the third period and scored an empty-net goal, contributing to Colorado's 5-2 victory. The win gave the Avalanche a 3-1 series lead heading into Game 5 on Wednesday.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar praised MacKinnon's resilience. "If he was going to be able to get out there, he was going to be out there," Bednar said. "I just felt for him because I just went through that. It doesn't feel very good." Bednar had suffered facial fractures and a corneal abrasion last month after a puck hit his cheek during...