The Colorado Avalanche will adjust without defenseman Cale Makar after he was suspended one game, as the team has done before at the end of the regular season.
Cale Makar’s one-game suspension couldn’t have come at a worse time when the team is already down another defenseman (Jack Johnson) and Valeri Nichushkin is still missing.
But it’s also nothing the team hasn’t seen at some other point this season. Truth is, it’s just another wrench in the team’s wheel that has managed to continue to spin, albeit at a slower speed than it’s capable.
“Disappointing, but I really don’t have any thoughts on it, besides that,” head coach Jared Bednar said Tuesday after the team returned to Denver.
Bednar pointed out that the team has been dealing with the adversity of losing players all season, and this is no exception. He had a very “adapt and overcome” attitude about it, as he and the team have had all season.
“Move on without him, just like we did at the end of the year,” Bednar said.
As for what will change in his lineup, he didn’t have an answer for that. He said the team is expecting to get an update on Johnson’s status sometime this afternoon or Wednesday morning, so he’s not in or out, yet. No matter what shifts, there’s going to be more dependence on the rest of the team to fill that void.
“Other guys will have to step up and play well. Obviously what he (Makar) does, has to be covered by the committee, all six guys in the backend. Just move forward, keep pushing forward,” Bednar said.
Makar’s hit on Seattle forward Jared McCann was supposedly considered late as the puck had deflected up into the netting. After the 3-2 overtime loss, Makar said he wasn’t sure where the puck was, and he was just finishing a check in the corner. He said he thought McCann was going to play the puck when it came down and the whistle hadn't been blown yet.
The NHL Department of Player Safety didn't elaborate on the decision and only said, “Colorado’s Cale Makar has been suspended for one playoff game for Interference against Seattle’s Jared McCann.” This is the Norris Trophy winner’s first suspension ever.
McCann took quite a bit of time to get up and off the ice and did not return to the contest. Seattle head coach Dave Hakstol said after the game, "So late hit, really late, no puck in play, our 40-goal scorer not available for the rest of the game, and like I said, not going to be available going forward here."
Bednar said the officials didn’t give him an explanation at the time of the penalty as to why there was initially no penalty called, then a major was called, then after video review, they settled on a two-minute minor for interference.