Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov, who has missed just one game this season, will be out for the remainder of the season after fracturing an ankle in practice Monday.
Zadorov, 21, who has 10 assists and leads the Avalanche in hits, "fell awkwardly" after making contact with teammate Mikko Rantanen, coach Jared Bednar told reporters.
"He got tangled up with Mikko and actually fell on top of Mikko, but his leg got trapped underneath Mikko and [he] fell awkwardly," Bednar said.
The Avs are hoping that Erik Johnson, who broke a leg on Dec. 6, can soon help fill the void left by Zadarov's absence. Johnson went through his first full practice since his injury on Monday, but he has not yet been cleared.