Cale Makar To Determine When To Return To Avalanche Lineup

The Colorado Avalanche are down two games in their Western Conference Finals matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. A major part of their recent struggles has been the absence of superstar defenseman Cale Makar who is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury sustained in the second round.

Makar continues to skate at the team’s practice facility but there has been no indication of when he may return. Head coach Jared Bednar told reporters following Game 2 that the decision will be left up to when Makar feels back to 100 percent, as captured by Vic Lombardi of Altitude TV. Bednar reiterated that after Saturday’s morning skate per Jesse Montano of Guerilla Sports. The head coach said:

No one can go into Cale’s body and feel what he’s feeling. So when he feels like he can do he can do all the things he needs to… then he’s gonna make the decision to play.

The Avalanche have filled the crater left by Makar’s absence by promoting Sam Malinski to the top-pair – but most of the weight to generate offense has been placed on Devon Toews and Brent Burns. Both defenders have struggled to create the same spark as Makar, leaving Colorado at just three goals scored through the first two games of the series. That is far below their league-leading average of 3.63 goals-per-game throughout the regular season – though the dip is no surprise. Makar finished the regular season ranked third among all defensemen with 79 points in 75 games played. He also led all defenseman in power-play ice time with 307 minutes on the man-advantage.

Colorado has been forced to find a new quarterback for their power-play, and make up for a one-man breakout, at the most critical point in their season. Meanwhile, Makar faces the challenge of working back to enough fitness to fill the 25 minutes a night that he has averaged through nine playoff games. It is an uphill battle that will only become tougher as the Avalanche look to climb out of their recent slump.

Makar seemed to sustain his injury in the series-clinching Game 5 matchup against the Minnesota Wild. He left the game early after falling awkwardly on his right arm but managed to return before the eventual overtime-win. While the Avalanche offense can’t pack the same punch without Makar in the lineup, their chances at a full run to the Stanley Cup would also be fully dampened if he was hurt for a longer stretch. That will be the balance that Makar has in mind as he continues to ease his way back into Colorado’s practices.

Makar will aim to make his return as the Avalanche head to Vegas for Game 3 on Sunday. If he decides a return would bring more risk than reward, the Avalanche will have to again lean on Malinski as the puck-mover on the top pair. Toews would also continue his role on a power-play that has yet to score this series. The Norris Trophy finalist’s decision, and its fallout, will be pivotal in the Avalanche’s hopes to break back into the win column.