Avalanche's Matt Duchene out 3-4 weeks - USA TODAY

Just when Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene was back and feeling comfortable, he'll be out for another lengthy period.

By Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

Matt Duchene is attended to by trainer Matthew Sokolowski after being injured against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

By Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

Matt Duchene is attended to by trainer Matthew Sokolowski after being injured against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

The Avalanche announced Thursday that Duchene will be out three to four weeks with the ankle injury that he suffered in Tuesday's game against the Minnesota Wild.

Duchene was the Avalanche's leading scorer last season with 67 points, but this season, he was sidelined with a knee injury for 20 games. He returned on Feb. 19 and had a goal and assist before being injured again.

"Not sure why God is putting me through these tests, but I have faith it's for the best," he said on his Twitter account.

Duchene, in the final season of his entry-level contact, has 13 goals and 13 goals in 48 games.

The good news for Colorado is that he won't need surgery, meaning he'll be available for the final stretch or the playoffs, if the Avalanche clinch.

"I'm gonna work as hard as I possibly can to be back in an Avs jersey before the season is over," he tweeted. "It kills me to be out again."

The problem for the Avalanche is they have played more games than any of the contenders for the final playoff spots in the West. They entered Thursday tied with the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings with 74 points, but the eighth-place Sharks have three games in hand and the Kings have two. If Duchene is able to return in three weeks, the Avalanche would have only three games left.

Colorado is on a 7-3 run and has been aided recently by the strong play of new arrivals Steve Downie and Jamie McGinn.

Around the rinks

New York Rangers center Brandon Dubinsky is sitting out. Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom (ankle) and goalie Jimmy Howard (lower body) skated Thursday before practice. …Marty Turco will serve as the Boston Bruins' backup goalie Thursday night. …Jeff Carter will play in Columbus Thursday night two weeks after he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. He has two goals in five games since the move. …Anaheim Ducks winger Teemu Selanne can break his tie Thursday with boyhood hero Jari Kurri (1,398) and become the NHL's highest-scoring Finnish-born player.

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