- Cale Makar missed a third on-ice session Tuesday, less than 24 hours before Game 1
- Jared Bednar, asked if he was worried: “No, not yet”
- Read below for what Sam Malinski said and how the Avs plan to cover if Makar can’t go
Cale Makar still isn’t practicing.
With Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights set for Wednesday night at Ball Arena, the Avalanche’s Norris Trophy finalist sat out another team practice Tuesday, his third missed on-ice session since Colorado closed out Minnesota last week. He was the only Avs player absent from the 50-minute skate.
Head coach Jared Bednar, speaking at a joint news conference with general manager Chris MacFarland, was asked if he was concerned about his star defenseman missing the day-before practice.
“No,” Bednar said. “Not yet.”
Here’s Bednar and MacFarland breaking down Makar and the rest of the roster ahead of Vegas:
Makar has been listed as day-to-day since skipping practices Saturday and Sunday. He appeared to hurt his right shoulder absorbing a hit late in the third period of Game 5 against the Wild, briefly heading to the locker room before returning to help finish off the series in overtime. He’s reportedly also been managing a hip issue.
None of that has kept him off the lineup card. The 27-year-old has played in all nine of Colorado’s playoff games so far, totaling five points (four goals, one assist) while averaging just under 25 minutes a night, second on the team behind Devon Toews.
DNVR’s Evan Rawal flagged Makar’s absence from skate as far back as Saturday:
Sam Malinski was asked what he’d say to fans worried about Game 1 without Makar.
“I don’t know what to tell them,” Malinski said. “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.”
If Makar can’t go, more weight falls on Malinski, Toews, Josh Manson, Brett Kulak, 41-year-old Brent Burns and depth guys like Jack Ahcan and Nick Blankenburg. Burns, Manson, Malinski and Artturi Lehkonen were all on the ice Tuesday after missing time during the layoff, so the Avs at least have most of the rotation back.
Colorado holds an optional morning skate Wednesday, which means Makar is a true game-time call. Puck drops at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
