Avalanche Seek to Bounce Back Against Golden Knights in Game 2 Without Makar Update

With the sting of a 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights still fresh, Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar turned to video review as his primary motivational tool. The team dissected their performance in the opener of the Western Conference Final, looking for quick fixes to their shortcomings. Despite the loss and the absence of star defenseman Cale Makar, Bednar found more positives than negatives in the footage, even if it wasn’t easy to watch.

“We don’t tiptoe around it in our locker room. We show the things we liked, we show the things we didn’t like. There’s no secrets,” Bednar said as the Avalanche prepared for Game 2. He emphasized the importance of accountability, making it clear that if one player falters, it can impact the entire team. “Expectations are high, and if one guy’s making a mistake, it’s likely that other guys are going to be put in the same positions. … We feel like a lot of it’s on us.”

The potential return of Makar would undoubtedly provide a significant boost to the Avalanche, but Bednar had no updates on his status following an upper-body injury. Makar did participate in an optional practice on Thursday, sparking hope among fans.

As the Avalanche aim to regroup, Bednar is counting on his squad’s resilience. This trait has been crucial to their success, including earning the Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s best team. “I know our team, and I know our goals, and I know the mindset of our group,” Bednar asserted. “To me, the motivation to play is there for all of our guys. It’s about us going and trying to be the best version of ourselves that we could be, because we weren’t (Wednesday).”

Without Makar, defensive lapses were evident, but Bednar stressed that the issues were not solely due to his absence. “That has nothing to do with Cale,” he clarified. Instead, he pointed to execution problems and poor puck management as the culprits for their defensive struggles.

Forward Nazem Kadri focused on the silver linings, noting Colorado’s ability to score two goals in the third period, narrowing the deficit to 3-2 before conceding an empty-netter. “We’re a good team. We have full confidence in our capabilities,” Kadri said. “We did a lot of great things last game, a little bit sloppy at times, but felt like we did enough to win the game. Credit to them, they stole one. Now we’ve got to respond.”

Kadri drew on the team’s past experiences, recalling how they rebounded after a tough Game 3 loss to Minnesota in the second round. “Some people thought the sky was falling then,” he remarked. “We have a process that we stick to, and we’re not going to waver from that.”

The Golden Knights, on the other hand, thrive in challenging environments, a trait coach John Tortorella admires. “They’ve seen it, most of the guys have seen it, have felt it,” he said. His team is 3-0 in Game 1s this postseason, showcasing their ability to handle pressure.

For the Avalanche, the key to success lies in starting strong. They boast an impressive record of 5-0 when scoring first in the playoffs, while they are 3-2 after conceding the opening goal. Defenseman Devon Toews emphasized the need for a proactive approach. “We’ve got to start to try to take the lead a little bit more in these games, and put our foot down,” he said. “Put pressure on teams to try to attack us, instead of us having to attack them.”

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.