Avаlаncһe’ѕ Joѕһ Mаnѕon ѕіdelіned for next two gаmeѕ wіtһ lower-body іnjury

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson is expected to be out of the lineup for the next two games due to a lower-body injury, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar confirmed to TSN’s Salim Nadim Valji on Thursday.

Facing the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, Manson exited late in the second period and did not return. On the season, the 33-year-old native of Hinsdale, Ill., has made 43 appearances with the Avalanche in which he has collected one goal and 12 assists for 13 points alongside 26 penalty minutes and a minus-nine mark.

Originally chosen by the Anaheim Ducks in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Draft, Manson has totaled 621 career contests with the Ducks and Avalanche in which he has tallied 39 goals and 129 assists for 168 points with 598 penalty minutes and a plus-43 rating. With the Ducks in 2017-18, Manson reached a career-high 37 points, while last season with the Avalanche he notched a career-best eight goals. Manson has also added 18 points through 58 postseason appearances, underscored by three goals and five assists in 20 games in the 2022 playoffs en route to a Stanley Cup championship with the Avalanche.

Per PuckPedia, Manson is in the third year of a four-year contract that carries a $4.5-million annual average value.

For the Avalanche, the club has two games remaining prior to breaking for the 4 Nations Face-Off. On Thursday, the Avalanche continue their three-game road trip against the Calgary Flames before heading north Friday to take on the Edmonton Oilers. On the season, the Avalanche hold down the first wildcard seed in the Western Conference with a 31-22-2 record and 64 points. The Avalanche have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the past seven seasons, the NHL’s longest active streak behind only the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, both at eight years.