Avalanche's Bernier leaves Game 4 with lower-body injury

Colorado Avalanche goalie Jonathan Bernier was replaced with Andrew Hammond for the beginning of the third period Wednesday night after Bernier sustained a lower-body injury, the team announced.

Bernier made 23 saves on 26 shots in two periods before exiting.

With Semyon Varlamov already sidelined with a knee injury, losing Bernier would make toppling the top-seeded Nashville Predators that much more difficult.

As for Hammond, this marks just the second NHL game he's played in all season.