Colorado Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar will miss Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the visiting Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, head coach Jared Bednar said.
Makar, who has yet to miss a game in the playoffs, is considered day-to-day with the undisclosed injury. He missed practice Tuesday for the third time since the end of the previous round.
The Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche swept the Los Angeles Kings to begin the playoffs, then dispatched the Minnesota Wild in five games. Makar appeared in all nine games and ranks second on the team in the postseason with four goals to go with one assist while averaging almost 25 minutes of ice time.
However, Makar departed Games 1 and 5 of the Minnesota series following big collisions, only to return both times.
Makar, 27, won the Norris Trophy given to the league’s best defenseman in 2021-22 and 2024-25, and he is nominated again this season. He has 507 points (136 goals, 371 assists) in 470 career games over seven seasons with the Avalanche. He tallied 20 goals and 59 assists in 75 games during the 2025-26 regular season.
