Cale Makar misses Avalanche Game 1

Cale Makar did not play for the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1 of the Western Conference final on Wednesday, leaving Colorado without its top defenseman in a 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena in Denver. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said before the game that Makar was day to day because of an undisclosed injury. NHL.com reported that Makar skated before Colorado’s optional morning skate and Bednar said the defenseman was feeling “pretty good,” but he was still unavailable. Vegas took the opener behind 36 saves from Carter Hart and goals from Pavel Dorofeyev, Dylan Coghlan, Brett Howden and Nic Dowd. ### What did Colorado say about Makar before puck drop? Jared Bednar said Wednesday that Makar would miss Game 1 and that Jack Ahcan would replace him in the lineup, according to NHL.com. Bednar described Makar as day to day with an undisclosed injury and said the defenseman was feeling “pretty good” after skating earlier in the day. (nhl.com) May 20 was set to be Makar’s first missed Stanley Cup playoff game because of injury, NHL.com said. The report added that Makar had missed each of Colorado’s three practices since the Avalanche advanced past the Minnesota Wild in the second round. ### Where did the injury issue appear to start? (nhl.com) Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild on May 13 was the last playoff game Makar played before the conference final opener. NHL.com said he appeared to be battling an injury in that clinching overtime win, going to the dressing room for six minutes in the third period. (nhl.com) The Avalanche did not disclose the nature of the injury in the NHL.com report. Public updates around Makar’s status have described him as day to day, without a firm return date. ### What did Colorado lose with Makar out? Makar entered the game with five points in nine playoff games, including four goals and one assist, according to NHL.com. (nhl.com) He was averaging 24:59 of ice time per game, second on Colorado only to Devon Toews at 25:28. Josh Manson called Makar “the best defenseman in the world” in comments published by NHL.com. (nhl.com) Logan O’Connor said there was “not one guy” who could replace him, adding that Colorado would need to handle the workload “by committee.” ### How did the opener unfold without him? Vegas won 4-2 on Wednesday night as Carter Hart stopped 36 shots and Dorofeyev scored his league-leading 10th goal of the playoffs, NHL.com said. (nhl.com) Colorado got goals from Valeri Nichushkin and Gabriel Landeskog, while Nathan MacKinnon had an assist and Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves. Bednar said after the game that some of the areas where Colorado struggled were Makar’s strengths. “But he’s not playing. So we have to find a way,” Bednar said, according to NHL.com. ### What has Colorado said after the loss? The Associated Press reported Thursday that the Avalanche did not have an update on Makar as they regrouped after the Game 1 loss. (nhl.com) Colorado now trails the best-of-seven series 1-0. Bednar said after the game that Colorado was capable of better and needed more urgency earlier, according to NHL.com. (nhl.com) He said the Avalanche had “lots to improve upon” going into Game 2. ### When is the next checkpoint for his return? Game 2 is scheduled for Friday, May 22, at Ball Arena in Denver, with Vegas leading the series 1-0. (apnews.com) Published series schedules show the matchup remains in Denver before shifting to Las Vegas for Game 3 on May 24. (sportingnews.com) (nhl.com)