Colorado Avalanche forward Chris Stewart won’t be back in the lineup tomorrow night to face his brother Anthony when the Atlanta Thrashers come to town.

DETROIT,MI - NOVEMBER 13: Chris Stewart of the Colrado Avalanche calls for the puck in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on November 13,2010 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Wings defeated the Avalanche 3-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

According to Adrian Dater from the Denver Post, Stewart will be out four to six weeks with a fractured hand, suffered in a one sided bout against Minnesota Wild forward Kyle Brodziak in a 7-4 rout of the Wild on Saturday night.

While the debate can go either way on whether or not Stewart should be fighting, it is tough for Colorado to lose their leading goal scorer for any amount of time. Stewie has 11 goals in 23 games and is second on the team in points behind Milan Hejduk – who is off to a spectacular start.

The news isn’t all bad as Dan Winnik, who took a John-Michael Liles rocket to the leg on Saturday, is likely to return to the lineup Tuesday having missed only two periods of play. Early reports of Winnik’s injury alluded to a deep bone contusion, which is a playable ailment as long as he can skate.

Dater goes on to say that injured goaltender Craig Anderson should be ready to suit up against the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night when the Avalanche start a five-game road trip as well.

What do you think? Should Stewart have been in that position? Should Winnik rest a little longer? Is Craig Anderson truly healed up this time?

Related posts:

  1. Chris Stewart Scores 100th NHL Point in Loss to Flames
  2. Mauldin Leads Avs Victory Over Wild
  3. Avalanche Shine Brighter Than Stars
  4. Duchene, Anderson Lead Avs to Victory
  5. Craig Anderson Back At Practice