All articles tagged with #cale makar
Colorado Avalanche's playoff run is hanging by a thread with star defenseman Cale Makar out with a shoulder injury, leaving them vulnerable as Vegas took a 2-0 series lead (4-2 in Game 1 and 3-1 in Game 2), with crease and goaltending questions compounding Colorado's struggling stretch.
Cale Makar will miss Game 2 of the Western Conference Final for the Colorado Avalanche with an upper-body injury, marking his second straight absence after Game 1. Jack Ahcan started in his place and Nick Blankenburg was a healthy scratch, with coach Jared Bednar declining further lineup decisions. Makar, a Norris Trophy finalist who had 79 points this season, remains a key factor as Vegas sticks to its game plan and Colorado looks to rebound after a 4-2 loss to try to even the series.
With Cale Makar’s health uncertain for the Western Conference Finals, the Avalanche must lean on depth defensemen and a 20-man roster to carry the load as he weighs return versus possible surgery and a July contract extension; Bednar says there’s no clear update yet, but players like Devon Toews, Sam Malinski, Brent Kulak, and Brent Burns are stepping up to keep Colorado in the race for another Cup.
Colorado Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild in five games to reach the Western Conference finals, buoyed by top-line play from MacKinnon and Necas and key depth contributions from Kadri, Roy, and the fourth line; Minnesota’s injuries to Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin helped Colorado, while Cale Makar anchored the defense despite a shoulder issue. The win also showcased Colorado’s depth and timely goaltending, with home-ice success marking a first since 2008. They now await the winner of Vegas vs. Anaheim.
Colorado Avalanche look to bounce back in Game 4 against the Minnesota Wild, with Cale Makar Over 0.5 assists (-155) as the top bet. The piece also stacks a same-game parlay featuring Necas (shots) and Zuccarello (shots) and a Kadri to score pick at +295, plus moneyline (-135 Avalanche), puck line (-1.5/+175), and Over/Under 6.5 (+100 / -120). Game is set for May 11, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET in St. Paul, MN, broadcast on ESPN and Sportsnet.
NHL playoff preview for Avalanche vs. Wild Game 4. Betting analyst Todd Cordell predicts Cale Makar will finally impact the score sheet with Over 0.5 assists as the best bet, Nazem Kadri at +295 to score, and a four‑team same-game parlay including Martin Necas for an anytime goal and Mats Zuccarello Over 1.5 shots. Current odds list Avalanche -135, Wild +115, with Avalanche -1.5 +175 and Over/Under 6.5 at +100/-120. Game is tonight at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, MN, puck drop 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN/Sportsnet.
Colorado’s Cale Makar returned after an early hit and scored two third-period goals as the Avalanche rallied to beat Minnesota 9-6 in Game 1, taking a 1-0 series lead in a chaotic, high-scoring affair that kept the pace fast and open.
The article compares NHL defensemen Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes using advanced stats, highlighting their skating speed, distance, shot metrics, and recent trade impact, with both players ranking highly in various categories and set to face off in upcoming games.
NHL.com's Dan Rosen discusses Connor Bedard's potential Olympic participation despite injury, predicts Cale Makar's contract details, explores trade rumors involving Quinn Hughes and the New York Rangers, and considers the implications of shutting down the NHL season for the Olympics, emphasizing the significance of international play for players and the league.
The Philadelphia Flyers' five-game point streak ended with a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Despite late goals from Owen Tippett and Tyson Foerster, the Flyers couldn't equalize after trailing 2-0. Coach John Tortorella expressed frustration over mistakes, particularly Travis Konecny's defensive lapse that allowed Cale Makar to score. The Flyers, now 8-9-2, will face the Avalanche again in February. Aleksei Kolosov made 26 saves, while Justus Annunen stopped 24 shots for Colorado. The game also featured Erik Johnson's 1,000th career game celebration.
The NHL trade deadline saw a fascinating swap between Bowen Byram and Casey Mittelstadt, with both players offering tremendous upside and risk. Mittelstadt has shown significant growth and fills a major void for Colorado, but there are concerns about the sustainability of his performance. Byram, on the other hand, has potential but has struggled this season, prompting a need for a change of scenery in Buffalo. The article also discusses various stats and insights on players like Colton Parayko, Cale Makar, Matthew Tkachuk, and the recent performance of teams like the Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, and New York Islanders.
Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers won the 2024 NHL All-Star Skills Competition, earning a $1 million prize, with Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar finishing second and Georgiev receiving $100,000 as the top goalie. McDavid's victory was secured in the Pepsi NHL Obstacle Course, where he also won the Fastenal NHL Fastest Skater event and the Upper Deck NHL Stick Handling Challenge. Makar won the Rogers NHL Hardest Shot event, and Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson claimed the Scotiabank NHL Passing Challenge.
Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Blues forward Robert Thomas addressed the alleged 2018 sexual assault incident involving NHL players, with Makar emphasizing that he was not involved and has cooperated with the investigation. Five players, including four current NHL players, have reportedly been charged with sexual assault in connection to the incident, while a civil lawsuit was dropped after Hockey Canada reached a settlement with the woman. All members of the 2018 team were banned from representing Hockey Canada during the investigation, and Makar was not allowed to join Canada’s roster at the 2023 world championships.
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar expresses his anger and disappointment with his team's lack of effort and performance in a recent 8-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. He criticizes the players for quitting, questioning their work ethic and execution. Bednar emphasizes the need for improvement and hard work in practice to address the team's issues. He also expresses concern about the goaltender's performance and the overall frustration and fragmentation within the group.
The Chicago Blackhawks were blown out by the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 in their final game of a five-game road trip. The Avalanche took control of the game after scoring a shorthanded goal, and the Blackhawks struggled to generate offense. Goaltender Petr Mrazek was the standout player for Chicago, facing a barrage of shots throughout the game. Despite the loss, the Blackhawks finished the road trip with four out of a possible 10 points. They will have their home opener on Saturday, which will also mark Connor Bedard's first official game at the United Center.