Avalanche’s Cale Makar Out for Game 2 of Western Conference Final

The Colorado Avalanche will face a significant challenge in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final as standout defenseman Cale Makar will be sidelined due to an upper-body injury. Makar, who also missed Game 1, participated in various skating and shooting drills on Friday morning but was ultimately ruled out by head coach Jared Bednar.

The Avalanche are looking to bounce back after dropping the series opener to the Vegas Golden Knights, who lead the series 1-0 following a 4-2 victory. Bednar acknowledged the impact of Makar’s absence, stating, “It hurts when you don’t have Makar, but every team is going through (injuries).” He also noted that the Golden Knights have been missing their captain, Mark Stone. “Our goal is to be the best version of ourselves we can be tonight, and that’s without Cale, and so be it. I still think we’re capable of winning the hockey game if we’re better than we were the other night.”

Makar appeared to sustain his injury during Game 5 of the second round against Minnesota, where he left the ice clutching his right arm but later returned to play. He briefly exited Game 1 after taking a hit along the boards that sent his right leg flying before he fell to the ice.

As for who will step in for Makar, Bednar has yet to confirm the replacement. Options include Jack Ahcan, who filled in previously, or Nick Blankenburg, recently acquired from Nashville. Alex Gagne could also be a candidate to take Makar’s place.

In the playoffs so far, Makar has tallied four goals and an assist while averaging nearly 25 minutes of ice time. His contributions are crucial not only at even strength but also on special teams, making his absence even more pronounced.

When asked about the mental impact of playing without Makar, Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson emphasized the need to focus on the game rather than dwelling on what’s missing. “I don’t think when you’re playing you can think about it. I think that’s a hindrance. Going into it, obviously, you hope he’s playing. I don’t think anybody can ever stand up here and say, ‘Oh, I hope he’s not playing.’ I mean, he’s a generational player. I don’t think you want to think about it. I think you’ve just got to keep playing.”

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