Stanley Cup Playoffs 2014: Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene Resumes Skating

Feb 6, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers defeated the Avalanche, 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

As if being ahead of the Minnesota Wild heading into game three was already a good start, Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene returned to the ice Monday morning in the team’s skate around. In watching the video, he was very tentative which is usual after coming off of an MCL injury. Matt will not play in-game three of tonight’s first round match-up with the Minnesota Wild.

Duchene initially suffered his knee injury back on March. 29th and has been out since. He was ruled out for up-to-four weeks with an MCL strain. The Avalanche as a team have been explosive on the offensive end, led by the line consisting of Gabriel Landeskog, Paul Stastny, and Nathan MacKinnon. In game two, MacKinnon and Stastny each recorded four points in the victory, collecting a goal and three assists.

Getting Matt Duchene back in the lineup will only make the team stronger. Duchene recorded a career-high in assist this season with 47, collecting 70 points in 71 games; that’s nearly a point per game. This past Saturday, rookie head coach Patrick Roy said in a press conference that Duchene is unlikely to play in the first-round even if it goes to seven games.

All signs are pointing towards a Matt Duchene return in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs if the Avalanche continue their winning ways against the Wild.