Avalanche’s Cale Makar leaves game against Flames with injury

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Steven Ellis | Last updated Mar 30, 2026 11:18 PM ET

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar left his team’s game against the Calgary Flames on Monday with an upper-body injury.

Makar was hit by Flames forward Adam Klapka with just under 5:30 to go in the second. Makar played two more shifts to close out the period, but did not return for the third period.

Earlier in the game, Makar registered his third assist of the game, moving into seventh place in franchise history among three-assist efforts.

Cale Makar passes Anton Stastny in 3+ assist games and is now 7th in franchise history #GoAvsGo
— Avs Stats (@avsstats) March 31, 2026

The Avalanche found themselves leading the game 6-1 after 40 minutes of play before winning 9-2.

Makar is now up to 75 points in 73 games, putting him on pace for over 80 points for the third straight year. The 27-year-old defender is one of the best players in the NHL. Drafted fourth overall in 2017, Makar’s mix of consistency, skill, and dominant hockey sense has allowed him to be an absolute force for the Avalanche.

That includes helping the club win the Stanley Cup in 2022, taking home the Conn Smythe and the Norris Trophy for the first time in his career. Makar won the Norris as top defenseman again in 2025, and was part of Canada’s roster that won the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago, and silver at the Winter Olympics in 2026.

Makar had 136 goals and 500 points in 467 games to his credit over eight seasons prior to Monday’s contest.

The Avalanche are currently first in the NHL with a 48-14-10 record, giving them 106 points. The Dallas Stars are the only other team to hit the century point mark through the 2025-26 season to date, with Buffalo, Carolina and Tampa Bay sitting close by with 98 apiece.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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