Makar, a defenseman, and Helm, a forward, each missed a second straight game when Colorado won 6-2 at the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
Makar recently missed nine games in a 10-game stretch from Feb. 9-March 1 with a concussion, and four games with an upper-body injury from Jan. 18-24.
"I would consider him day to day at this point," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told The Denver Post after they practiced in Los Angeles on Friday. "But we're just going to wait for him to feel good before he plays, so I don't have a timeline."
The Avalanche (47-24-6), who trail the Dallas Stars by two points for first place in the Central Division, visit the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW). Colorado clinched a berth Tuesday in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which begin April 17.
Makar, who leads the NHL in average ice time per game (26:23), is third on Colorado with 66 points (17 goals, 49 assists) in 60 games this season. Last season, he won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman and the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs when the Avalanche won the championship.
"I think we're sitting in a good spot, and we're trying to make sure it's not something that's going to linger," Bednar said.
Helm, who did not make his season debut until Jan. 2 because of offseason hip surgery, has been limited to 11 games this season (no points) and did not play in a 4-3 overtime win against the Sharks on Tuesday. Bednar said Helm's injury is a new issue.
Both Makar and Helm are on the team's road trip.
Colorado is also without forwards
Gabriel Landeskog
, who hasn't played all season because of knee surgery, and Artturi Lehkonen, who was expected to be sidelined 4-6 weeks after breaking his finger March 13. Defenseman Josh Manson hasn't played since March 1 because of a lower-body injury, and goalie Pavel Francouz (lower body) has been out since Feb. 7.
Landeskog, Lehkonen and Francouz each skated Friday, according to The Denver Post. After facing the Kings on Saturday, the Avalanche will play again Sunday at the Anaheim Ducks.
"We're facing our share of adversity, but the guys that are healthy and able to play are digging in and playing hard as a team," Bednar said Tuesday. "I guess that's all you can ask for. We're wishing the best for ourselves when it comes to some guys returning from injury. But again, other guys are stepping up and finding ways to get the job done, and that's all you can ask."
