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Avalanche was 7-1 in Nathan MacKinnon’s absence. “Excited to try and help keep this thing rolling,” he said pregame from Toronto.

TORONTO — After the morning skate at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar confirmed top-line center Nathan MacKinnon will return to the lineup against the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight to begin a five-game trip.

“Nate’s in. No issues. He’s been feeling really good here for the last four or five days and he’s not having any issues on the ice,” Bednar said. “He got through practice the other day. So he’s rarin’ to go.”

MacKinnon missed eight games with a lower-body injury, a stretch where Colorado went 7-1.

“Excited to try and help keep this thing rolling, and fun place to jump back in with family and friends,” MacKinnon said.