The Colorado Avalanche announced earlier this evening that defenceman Cale Makar will miss tonight’s game vs. the Detroit Red Wings with an upper-body injury.
#Avs team official said Cale Makar will be out and is day-to-day with an upper-body injury while Valeri Nichushkin will play tonight.
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) March 3, 2020
Avs to be Without Cale Makar
Makar played the whole game on Saturday night vs. the Nashville Predators and was at practice this morning for the Avs before being scratched for tonight’s game. Makar has put up 12 goals and 35 assists for 47 points in 56 games this season. He has also recorded 12 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers are 52.8 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 2.6. Makar was the Avs’ fourth overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. He made his rookie debut for the Avs in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year picking up a goal and five assists for six points over 10 games.
What This Means for Tonight’s Game
There is no question that this is a major loss for the Av’s as Makar is their best defenceman and is making his case for the Calder Trophy. Makar will look to rejoin the Avs’ lineup on Wednesday night as they host the Anaheim Ducks.
With Makar out of the lineup, Valeri Nichushkin will draw back into the Avs’ lineup. Nichuskin has played in 59 games this season putting up 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points. He has also picked up 14 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers are 54.0 percent Corsi with a relative Corsi of +3.5.
Samuel Girard will move up to the top pairing alongside Ryan Graves. Girard has put up four goals and 29 assists for 33 points in 64 games this season. He has also added 15 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers are 51.4 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of +0.7 percent. Mark Barberio will fill in on the third pairing with Makar out of the lineup. Barberio has played in 15 games this season while recording two assists over that time.
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