- Cale Makar questionable for Game 3 Sunday night in Vegas after missing Games 1 and 2
- Jared Bednar: “You’ll have to wait and see” before puck drop at T-Mobile Arena
- Read below for the full Bednar quote and what Makar’s absence means for Colorado
Cale Makar is questionable for Game 3.
Asked about his star defenseman’s status before puck drop at T-Mobile Arena, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar wasn’t committing one way or the other: “You’ll have to wait and see.”
Colorado trails the Golden Knights 2-0 in the Western Conference Final and hasn’t had Makar on the ice once in the series. He hurt his upper body absorbing a hit late in the second round against Minnesota.
The day before, Bednar was a lot blunter about whose call this actually is. After Friday’s 3-1 Game 2 loss in Denver, the coach put the decision squarely on his player.
“It’s gonna be Cale’s decision on if he’s coming back. He’s doing all the work. I don’t make that decision for him.”
Jack Ahcan drew in for Game 1 and finished minus-1 in 7:34. Nick Blankenburg slotted in for Game 2 and skated 9:21. The drop-off from Makar to either of those names doesn’t need much explaining.
Makar joined Colorado’s optional skate Friday and even ran reps with the top power-play unit before getting scratched. He was on the ice again Sunday morning, though not at full clip.
Watch Bednar’s full Game 2 media availability address the situation:
In the regular season, the 27-year-old finished third among NHL defensemen with 79 points and is a finalist for his third Norris Trophy. In nine playoff games this spring, he has four goals and five points while averaging just under 25 minutes a night.
The Knights have now stolen back-to-back wins in Denver, and the math at this stage is brutal. Since 1982, road teams that take a 2-0 lead in conference finals are 13-0 in the series.
Bednar’s group needs Makar back to break that pattern. Game 4 goes Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena.
