05/20/26 12:22:00
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05/20 12:19 CDT Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar to miss Game 1 of Western
Conference Final against Vegas
Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar to miss Game 1 of Western Conference Final
against Vegas
By PAT GRAHAM
AP Sports Writer
DENVER (AP) --- Colorado defenseman Cale Makar will miss Game 1 of the Western
Conference Final against Vegas on Wednesday night with an upper-body injury.
Coach Jared Bednar announced after the morning skate that Makar was out and
called the standout blueliner "day to day."
"I think he's doing a lot better," Bednar said. "He's on the ice again this
morning, feeling pretty good."
Makar left the ice holding his right arm following a collision late in Game 5
against Minnesota last Wednesday but returned as Colorado won the game in
overtime. He also briefly left Game 1 after taking a hit along the boards, with
his right leg flying into the air before he fell to the ice.
Makar's absence is a blow for the Avalanche, who are 8-1 in this postseason.
This is the first time Makar has missed a playoff game for the Avalanche with
an injury. He was suspended one game for interference during a series against
Seattle in 2023.
The Norris Trophy finalist has four goals and an assist while averaging nearly
25 minutes of ice time through the opening two rounds. Makar also is an
integral part of Colorado's special teams.
"Best defenseman in the world," Avalanche forward Logan O'Connor said. "He's
not going to be easily replaced. There's not one guy that's going to be able to
do it. I think the advantage we have with the group we have in the game tonight
is a lot of guys can be minute-munchers for us.
"Cale presents a dynamic ability that is super-unique in the league. No one's
going to replicate that tonight, but it's on the D-core as a whole, and our
group as a whole, to try and pick it up when we can."
Bednar said defenseman Jack Ahcan will step into the lineup. Ahcan made his
Stanley Cup playoff debut in Game 4 against Minnesota and played limited
minutes in Game 5. Ahcan also skated in four Calder Cup playoff games this
season with the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League.
Forward Artturi Lehkonen is expected to be in the lineup as well. Lehkonen
missed the final two games of the Minnesota series with an upper-body injury.
"He touches every aspect of our game, five-on-five, power play, penalty kill,"
Bednar said. "He's a big-time playoff performer, a great two-way player, so
just helps us slot all of our lines where we need them in order to play a team
like Vegas."
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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