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Matt Duchene News
Duchene (knee) may return to the Avalanche lineup for Game 6.

The early word from the Avs is that Duchene is likely to return on Monday, but head coach Patrick Roy has not confirmed that. Roy said that if Duchene does play, he will likely play on the fourth line and power-play, but I find that hard to believe. The Avalanche will hit the ice for their morning skate shortly, so we will have word on Duchene's availability soon thereafter.

Matt Duchene
Matt Duchene likely won't play in this first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Wild.

Duchene would add the extra scoring punch that the Avs could desperately use to easily push past the Wild. Instead, look for a Round 2 return from a knee injury at the earliest for the Avs' leading scorer.

Matt Duchene
Duchene (knee) will miss "roughly" four weeks.

Duchene was injured in a collision with his linemate Jamie McGinn on Saturday. This is a tough break for the Avalanche who lose their leading scorer just two weeks before the end of the regular season. Four weeks will have him returning around April 21, which will see him likely miss the majority, if not all of the first-round.

Matt Duchene
Duchene left Saturday's game with a knee injury and will not return.

Duchene suffered the injury when he collided with line-mate Jamie McGinn. Duchene played just 32 seconds before retiring to the dressing room. The Avalanche have had a great season and will make the playoffs, but losing Duchene for an extended period of time would be devastating. We will update his status as soon as something is released.

Matt Duchene
Duchene (oblique) is a game-time decision tonight .

It seems unlikely that Duchene will return tonight, but the status of "game-time decision" leaves the door open for him to improve as the day goes on. If he does not play it will be the fourth straight game that he will miss, but Friday seems like a definite possibility at this point. Monitor his status during pre-game warm-ups.

Matt Duchene
Duchene (oblique) was a full participant in Colorado's practice today, but remains doubtful to play Wednesday.

Duchene appears set to miss his fourth straight game with an oblique injury that he suffered on November 16. Monitor his status following Wednesday's morning skate in case his oblique drastically improves overnight, but it appears like Friday at Minnesota is a more likely return date.

Matt Duchene
Duchene (oblique) skated with the Avalanche today.

Duchene was on the ice in a non-contact jersey with the team today, but skated on his own. Duchene was only expected to miss a week so there is a chance he could play on Wednesday vs. St. Louis. He will need to shed the non-contact jersey and be a full participant in Tuesday's or Wednesday's practice if he is going to play.

Matt Duchene
Coach Patrick Roy said after today's practice that Matt Duchene (foot) will not make the road trip. He wants to make sure he's 100% healthy before he plays

Duchene will miss Thursday's game vs. Phoenix and Saturday against Los Angeles. He could return next Wednesday when the Avalanche take on the Blues.

Matt Duchene
Leading scorer Matt Duchene (oblique) might only miss two games with an oblique injury, and possibly play Saturday at the Los Angeles Kings.

Duchene was ruled out for at least a week on Monday, but will join the Avs on a two-game trip that begins Thursday at Phoenix and likely practice with the team. Patrick Roy noted that it's "November" with a long season ahead and the team won't rush Duchene back, so the center might not return until next week against the visiting St. Louis Blues. But his recovery has been encouraging.

Matt Duchene
Duchene (oblique) will be out one week.

Duchene suffered the injury in the third period of Saturday's game with Florida. Oblique injuries can be serious, so a one-week prognosis constitutes good news for the Avs. "We will hope it's not more than that, but (Duchene) said he would need about a week," Patrick Roy said. Duchene has been the Avs' best player this season and a strong candidate to make the Canadian Olympic team in Sochi. Nathan MacKinnon is likely to move to center on a top-six line, though that won't be confirmed until Monday.

Matt Duchene
Duchene (foot) will play vs. the Flames.

Duchene injured his foot while blocking a shot on Wednesday. It doesn't sound like Duchene is at 100% but he will play tonight. He has had a fantastic start to the season (10G / 7A) so he should be able to get on the stat sheet again tonight vs. Calgary.

Matt Duchene
Duchene (foot) is on the ice for Avalanche game-day skate.

Duchene missed Thursday's practice with a sore foot after blocking a shot on Wednesday. The general feeling was that Duchene would be fine to play tonight, so this is not surprise. Reports are the he is skating well this morning. Duchene has had a torrid start to the season scoring 10 goals and adding seven assists (17 points) in 14 games.

Matt Duchene
The Colorado Avalanche shored up centre ice by signing Matt Duchene to a five-year, $30 million US contract extension

Duchene, 22, has 82 goals and 111 assists in 266 games with the Avalanche. Colorado selected centre Nathan MacKinnon with the first pick in last month's draft and also has Paul Stastny signed for one more season with a cap hit of US$6.6 million. Ryan O'Reilly is expected to move to wing given the Avalanche's depth down the middle. That depth could last a while with Duchene signed through 2018-19.

Matt Duchene
#Flames @ #Avs update Duchene says he will play tonight.

Duchene will likely rejoin P.A. Parenteau and Jamie McGinn tonight. He is the Avs leading scorer so this is a big return for Colorado who take on Calgary tonight. Duchene only missed one game with a groin injury. He is playing 21+ minutes a game so he should have no problem getting on the stat sheet.

Matt Duchene
Matt Duchene the latest Av to go down to injury.

Duchene (groin) will not play tonight when the Avalanche take on the Sharks. He is Colorado's leading scorer with six goals and 11 assists in 17 games. This is a tough break for the Avs who have had to battle through a lot of injuries this season.

Matt Duchene
Matt Duchene will be centering a line that has P.A. Parenteau and Gabriel Landeskog on the wings.

Duchene has yet to put up the numbers the Avalanche expected when picking him third overall. Playing with newcomer Parenteau and 2011-12 Rookie of the year Landeskog is a great opportunity for Duchene to get back on track.

Matt Duchene
Matt Duchene played just 5:12 at even strength and 7:21 overall in Thursday's 3-2 loss at Phoenix. He was minus-2 and didn't appear to suffer an injury.

Sounds like Duchene was benched for his lack of production. This punishment could go one of two ways with fantasy owners praying it sparks his offensive game.

Matt Duchene