The Colorado Avalanche star defenceman Cale Makar will miss Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.
The team did not disclose the nature of the injury, but said the blueliner is day-to-day, per ESPN’s Emily Kaplan.
Makar missed practice on Tuesday but head coach Jared Bednar said there wasn’t concern of him missing Game 1.
“No,” Bednar said. “Not yet.”
Makar, a Norris Trophy finalist, left the ice following a collision late in Game 5 against Minnesota, only to return as Colorado won the game — and the second-round series — 4-3 in overtime. He also briefly left Game 1 after taking a hit along the boards, with his right leg flying into the air before falling to the ice.
The 27-year-old Makar has four goals and an assist while averaging nearly 25 minutes of ice time through two rounds. He’s a crucial part of their offensive and special teams plans.
Asked what he’d say to fans worried about missing Makar for Game 1, fellow defenseman Sam Malinski responded Tuesday: “I don’t know what to tell them. Obviously, it would be great to have him out here. You can’t replace him, and we’re going to miss him out there. Yeah, hopefully we can still get it done without him.”
Makar has missed some recent practices but no games as the Avalanche have gone 8-1 so far in the playoffs.
Should Makar not be able to go, it puts more responsibilities on Malinski, Devon Toews, Josh Manson, Brett Kulak, Jack Ahcan, Nick Blankenburg and the 41-year-old Brent Burns.
But not pressure.
“We’re all going to have to play a little bit more and we’ll be challenged with different situations,” Malinski explained. “I might have to penalty kill or whatever it is. But, yeah, I wouldn’t say we feel pressure. We’re just going to have to step up.”
Manson agreed.
“If he can’t go, it is what it is,” Manson said of Makar. “That’s a huge piece. You don’t replace a guy like that, right, so hopefully he can. If not, then guys will step and you fill roles and you just do what you can.”
Files from the Canadian Press were uses in this report.
