Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar played coy with the media regarding Cale Makar on Sunday, saying “You’ll have to wait and see” regarding whether his star defenceman would be in the lineup in Game 3.
Makar has not played in the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights as he continues to deal with an upper-body injury.
Makar was on the ice for an optional skate and worked with the top power-play unit ahead of Game 2 on Friday, but went on to miss the game - a game the Avalanche dropped 3-1 to fall behind the Golden Knights 2-0 in the series.
The Avalanche have struggled to score without their superstar defenceman in the lineup against Vegas. After averaging 4.00 goals per game in winning eight of their first nine in these Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Avalanche have mustered just three goals in two losses to the Golden Knights this round.
The 27-year-old Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner for the league’s best defenceman, finished with 20 goals and 79 points in 75 games this season - the third most points among defencemen in the league. He has four goals and five points in nine games in the playoffs to this point.
“Obviously, Cale helps in so many different areas; you can’t put in a new guy in the lineup and replace him, but you can make sure you’re focused and prepared to play your best game,” Bednar said on Sunday. “I don’t think that happened with our group on the back end for the first two [games in this series], probably mostly with puck-management efficiency, moving out of the [defensive] zone, neutral zone, limiting turnovers. So, it’s an area I expect we’ll be better at tonight, like we talked about.”
Devon Toews has taken Makar’s spot on the top power-play unit, a group that usually features only one defenceman for the Avalanche. He told reporters ahead of Game 3 that the team is just focusing on playing their best, whether Makar is able to go or not.
“I think you just have to play your game,” Toews said Sunday. “You’re going to get a few extra minutes [and] they’re going to be spread out a little bit differently. That’s why we have depth back there.
“We’re confident with the guys we’ve got. It’s just on us to get the job done and limit their chances and go help on the offensive side as well.”
Bednar also refused to name a starting goalie when speaking to reporters on Sunday afternoon. Scott Wedgewood started the first two games of the series and has started nine of the 11 games Colorado has played in these playoffs so far.
The Avalanche won the Presidents’ Trophy this season with 121 points in the regular season, but are now in danger of falling behind 3-0 in the series as Game 3 goes from T-Mobile Arena in Vegas on Sunday night.
