LOS ANGELES – It sounds like the Colorado Avalanche might be without a key piece of their lineup for at least a little while.

Winger Artturi Lehkonen, who is fourth on the team with 19 goals, exited Monday’s game against the Kings in the first period after taking a puck up high. He never returned, and after the game, head coach Jared Bednar ruled him out for Tuesday’s game in Anaheim.

It doesn’t sound like that will be the only game he will miss, however.

“I haven’t got the full report on him, but he’s going to be out and miss some time,” Bednar said after the game.

In Lehkonen’s absence, Victor Olofsson moved up to the second line to play with Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin.

Although Bednar did not have a clear timetable in regard to the injury, it’s usually not a good sign if he already knows a player is not going to be able to play the next game. The NHL playoffs are set to begin on April 18, so there’s time for Lehkonen to recover for a return to the Avalanche during the postseason. The 30-year-old Finnish winger is a tough player to replace in the Avalanche lineup as Bednar uses him in all situations.