Makar to remain out for Avalanche in Game 2 of Western Final

Cale Makar will remain out of the lineup for the Colorado Avalanche when they host the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final at Ball Arena on Friday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS, CBC).

The defenseman was on the ice for an optional skate on Friday and took reps with the first power-play unit but will miss his second straight game after not playing in a 4-2 loss in Game 1 on Wednesday because of an upper-body injury. It was the first playoff game he has missed in his career due to injury.

Defenseman Jack Ahcan replaced Makar in Game 1 and was minus-1 in 7:34 of ice time, while defenseman Nick Blankenberg was a healthy scratch. Coach Jared Bednar did not say which would play in Game 2.

"He's an important player, right? And he plays a lot," Bednar said of Makar after the game. "Some of the areas that we struggled with tonight, those are his strengths. But he's not playing. So we have to find a way. I think the guys that we had playing tonight, not just the 'D,' but like, we're capable of more and capable of better. It just wasn't there for us tonight. We got to make sure it is for Game 2."

Makar has five points (four goals, one assist), 22 shots on goal and 18 blocked shots in nine playoff games this season games while averaging 24:59 of ice time, second on the team behind defenseman Devon Toews (25:28).

During the regular season, Makar was third among defenseman in points with 79 (20 goals, 59 assists) in 75, averaged 24:51 of ice time per game and was plus-32. He was named a finalist for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the best defenseman in the NHL.

"That's a huge piece," defenseman Josh Manson said before Game 1. "You don't replace a guy like that. We need guys to step and fill roles and you just do what you can. We've done it in the past with other guys out."

In seven NHL seasons, Makar has 507 points (136 goals, 371 assists) in 470 regular-season games and 90 points (26 goals, 64 assists) in 88 Stanley Cup Playoff games. The 27-year-old also has an impressive trophy case, having won the Norris twice (2021-22, 2024-25), the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year (2019-20) and the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP with Colorado in 2022.

"I mean, what doesn't he do that doesn't help?" forward Nazem Kadri said Thursday. "I think the puck moving and he likes to break the puck out himself a lot of times. ... Obviously him being out of the lineup hurts ... but overall I think we've got some guys that can step up."