Avalanche's MacKinnon returns to lineup after hit to head vs. Sharks

Nathan MacKinnon would be slow to get up after this dangerous hit to the head from Joachim Blichfeld.

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon will be back in the lineup Friday against the Anaheim Ducks, only days after being knocked out of a game against the San Jose Sharks by a hit to the head.

MacKinnon was unable to finish Wednesday's game after Sharks forward Joachim Blichfeld hit him in the neutral zone. Blichfeld was given a match penalty on the play and later suspended two games.

After the game, head coach Jared Bednar was optimistic that MacKinnon had avoided any serious injury and his return to the lineup Friday confirms that.

"He seems to be doing good. I think we got lucky on it," Bednar said, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh. "...As of right now he seems to be fine."

The Avalanche will not have any lineup changes for Friday's game. This includes captain Gabriel Landeskog, who will play despite his wife giving birth to their second child Thursday.

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