The Avs Are Down 0-2 and Their Coach Is Playing Games With His Star's Injury

Holy moly, can you believe what’s going down in the Western Conference Final right now? The Colorado Avalanche, the Presidents’ Trophy winners, are somehow staring down an 0-2 deficit against the Vegas Golden Knights, and their coach, Jared Bednar, is playing mind games with the media about the health of their absolute superstar defenseman, Cale Makar. You gotta be kidding me! This series is razor-thin already, and the Avs are walking a tightrope without their most important guy.

Makar's Mystery and The Defense's Woes

Seriously, what is going on with Cale Makar? Bednar is giving us absolutely nothing. “You’ll have to wait and see,” he said about Makar's status for Game 3 Sunday. The team skipped practice Saturday and didn't even skate Sunday morning, keeping everyone guessing. This dude, Makar, is arguably the most crucial player in this series, and he hasn't even played a minute! He's second on the team with four goals this postseason, but he took a brutal blast to the shoulder in Game 5 against Minnesota and hasn't played since. He returned for overtime in that game, but that was it. They’re missing him big time, especially on the power play, where they’ve really struggled in both losses. Devon Toews, another Avs D-man, knows they have to adjust. He said they'll be "spread out a little bit differently," but they’re banking on their depth. Bednar, though, is not having it with the rest of his defense. He basically called them out, saying they haven't been focused and prepared. He needs better puck management and cleaner puck-moving out of their own zone. No big turnovers, guys! The pressure is on them to step up tonight. One bit of good news: Josh Manson, who had an awkward collision in Game 2, *will* play. Still, all eyes will be on warmups before the 5 p.m. PT puck drop to see if Makar makes an appearance. You gotta know the Avs desperately need him.

The Goalie Question Looms Large

And if that wasn't enough drama, there’s a total goalie mystery swirling around the Avs too. Bednar has been rotating goalies all season, so it’s not a shock he'd consider it now. The big question is, will he swap Scott Wedgewood for Mackenzie Blackwood for Game 3? Wedgewood lost both games, but get this, he was playing so well in Game 2 he was almost the first star! Then, two unbelievable shots beat him in the final ten minutes, both deflecting off the post, leading to that 3-1 loss. You can’t make this stuff up! Bednar flat out refused to name his starter for Sunday, even after addressing the issue a bit on Saturday. He wouldn't talk about lineup decisions. The Avs are down 0-2, so every single decision is massive. This is it, folks. Game 3 on Sunday against Vegas is absolutely crucial. The Avs need to get a win to claw their way back into this series. Will Makar somehow suit up? Who’s in net? We’re about to find out, and you know we'll be glued to every second. Let’s go, hockey!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.