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Avs Defenseman Erik Johnson Out 3-To-8 Weeks With Knee Injury

/ CBS Colorado

DENVER (AP) - The Colorado Avalanche will be without top defenseman Erik Johnson for three to eight weeks due to a knee injury.

Erik Johnson
Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche controls the puck against Stephane Veilleux #19 of the Minnesota Wild in Game One of the First Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Pepsi Center on April 17, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Wild 5-4 in overtime to take a 1-0 game advantage in the series. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said the team received the update on Johnson after he had a scope Monday. Roy was "disappointed by the situation." Roy also said he has a "lot of confidence in our group" and that it will mean "different responsibilities for some of our defensemen."

Johnson made the All-Star team, but didn't play in the game over the weekend. The 26-year-old has a career-high 12 goals this season.

Colorado has some work to do to climb back into playoff contention, beginning Tuesday night in Nashville. The team is currently 10th in the Western Conference and three points out of the last playoff spot.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

First published on January 26, 2015 / 4:59 PM MST

© 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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