Cale Makar Misses Practice Ahead of Western Conference Final Game 1

Cale Makar, the standout defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche, sat out another practice on Tuesday, raising questions about his availability for Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights. However, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar reassured fans, stating, “No, not yet” when asked if there was cause for concern regarding Makar’s health.

Makar, a finalist for the Norris Trophy, left the ice during Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild after a collision but managed to return, helping lead Colorado to a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory that clinched the second-round series. His resilience has been on display throughout the playoffs, having scored four goals and added an assist while averaging nearly 25 minutes of ice time per game.

Defensive partner Sam Malinski addressed the potential impact of Makar’s absence, saying, “I don’t know what to tell [fans]. 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.” The Avalanche have performed admirably in the postseason, boasting an 8-1 record, despite Makar missing some recent practices.

If Makar is unable to play, it will place additional responsibilities on his fellow defensemen, including Malinski, Devon Toews, Josh Manson, Brett Kulak, Jack Ahcan, Nick Blankenburg, and the veteran Brent Burns. Malinski noted, “We’re all going to have to play a little bit more and we’ll be challenged with different situations. I might have to penalty kill or whatever it is. But, yeah, I wouldn’t say we feel pressure. We’re just going to have to step up.”

Manson echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of adaptability: “If he can’t go, it is what it is. That’s a huge piece. You don’t replace a guy like that, right, so hopefully he can. If not, then guys will step and you fill roles and you just do what you can.”

In a positive development for the Avalanche, forward Artturi Lehkonen returned to practice on Tuesday after missing the final two games of the Minnesota series due to an upper-body injury, providing a boost to the team as they prepare for the pivotal matchup against Vegas.

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