Left wing Alex Tanguay will undergo hip surgery on Friday and miss the remainder of the season, Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said after Thursday's practice.
Tanguay first developed the hip injury after hurting his knee during the Nov. 2 game against Montreal. The two injuries are related and forced the forward to miss 41 games. He returned from a 36-game absence on Jan. 24 against the Panthers and played in two more contests before missing Colorado's final five games before the Olympic break.
"He's an important player, but at the same time we did well without him," Roy said, according to the Denver Post. "You never like to lose a player like him, but at the same time it's part of the game. It's unfortunate for us, but it will give a chance for some other guys to take over."
The Avalanche (37-16-5) are 15-1 with Tanguay in the lineup this season. He finishes with four goals and seven assists.
