DENVER (AP) 鈥� Cale Makar sat out another practice session Tuesday on the eve of the against Vegas.
Any cause for concern over the health status of the Colorado Avalanche defenseman heading into Game 1 on Wednesday?
鈥淣o,鈥� coach Jared Bednar said. 鈥淣ot yet.鈥�
Makar, a Norris Trophy finalist, left the ice following a collision late in , only to return as Colorado won the game 鈥� and the second-round series 鈥� 4-3 in overtime. He also briefly left a hit along the boards, with his right leg flying into the air before falling to the ice.
The 27-year-old Makar has four goals and an assist while averaging nearly 25 minutes of ice time through two rounds. He’s a crucial part of their offensive and special teams plans.
Asked what he’d say to fans worried about missing Makar for Game 1, fellow defenseman Sam Malinski responded: “I don鈥檛 know what to tell them. Obviously, it would be great to have him out here. You can鈥檛 replace him, and we鈥檙e going to miss him out there. Yeah, hopefully we can still get it done without him.鈥�
Makar has missed some recent practices but no games as the Avalanche have gone 8-1 so far in the playoffs.
Should Makar not be able to go, it puts more responsibilities on Malinski, Devon Toews, Josh Manson, Brett Kulak, Jack Ahcan, Nick Blankenburg and the 41-year-old Brent Burns.
But not pressure.
“We鈥檙e all going to have to play a little bit more and we鈥檒l be challenged with different situations,” Malinski explained. “I might have to penalty kill or whatever it is. But, yeah, I wouldn鈥檛 say we feel pressure. We鈥檙e just going to have to step up.鈥�
Manson agreed.
“If he can鈥檛 go, it is what it is,鈥� Manson said of Makar. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a huge piece. You don鈥檛 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.鈥�
Forward Artturi Lehkonen returned to practice Tuesday. He’s been dealing with an upper-body injury and didn鈥檛 play in the final two games of the Minnesota series.
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