The Colorado Avalanche received another blow shortly after a crushing overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken that tied their first-round series at two games apiece.
Star defenseman Cale Makar is suspended for Game 5 on Wednesday night after his hit that knocked Jared McCann out of the game.
Early in the first period, Makar put McCann into the boards after McCann’s short-handed breakaway opportunity was stopped by Alexandar Georgiev. The puck was out of play, but Makar still laid down the hit, which was ruled an interference penalty.
Makar stayed in the game, but McCann lay on the ice before being attended to by medical staff. He eventually left the game and did not return, and Seattle has already ruled him out for Game 5 and possibly beyond.
Makar was initially assessed a five-minute major, but video replay switched the call. Despite the severity of the penalty decreasing in the game, Makar met with the NHL Department of Player Safety.
“It is important to note that McCann is in no way eligible to be checked on this play,” the league said. “Makar finishes this hit well outside the allowable window for finishing a check. In addition, it is clear that Makar knows McCann is not in possession of the puck when he decides to deliver this hit.
“Just other guys stepping up. We’ve done it all year with different injuries and guys in and out of the lineup. Lots of roster fluctuations. Just got to move on,” Bednar said. “You’ve got to set your game plan and other guys will have to step up and play well. Obviously what he does has to be covered by committee, all six guys on the back end, just move forward, keep pushing forward.”
The hit happened midway through the first period as McCann had a short-handed breakaway attempt. His shot was saved by Colorado goalie Alexandar Georgiev with the puck going over the glass into the netting.
McCann appeared unprepared for the hit from Makar, which left Seattle’s leading scorer from the regular season on the ice for several minutes and needed help to get to the bench.
Makar said he was unaware where the puck was when he made the hit. He was originally given a 5-minute major penalty but it was reduce to a 2-minute minor for interference after a review.
“It’s unfortunate. I never want to injure guys. Hopefully he’s all right,” Makar said after the game. “I didn’t feel like I tried to finish him that hard, but I feel like if I was in that scenario they would have done the exact same thing. I’m not trying to hurt anybody.”
It is the second suspension of the 2023 playoffs. Toronto’s Michael Bunting was given three games for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay’s Erik Cernak in the teams’ series opener. Cernak remains out for Game 5 on Thursday night, while Bunting is eligible to return.
Makar was initially assessed a five-minute major, but video replay switched the call. Despite the severity of the penalty decreasing in the game, Makar met with the NHL Department of Player Safety.
“It is important to note that McCann is in no way eligible to be checked on this play,” the league said. “Makar finishes this hit well outside the allowable window for finishing a check. In addition, it is clear that Makar knows McCann is not in possession of the puck when he decides to deliver this hit.
Hakstol said officials told him Makar’s penalty was reduced from a five-minute major to a two-minute interference minor because there was a puck in play during the battle, which is why Makar was penalized for interference.
“I disagree with that, obviously,” Hakstol said. “As I assessed it and looked at it live and looking at it after on video, I disagree with that assessment, whether that’s by the refs or by Toronto. That’s not an accurate description of the play.”
OVERVIEW
OnMyWay Is The #1 Distracted Driving Mobile App In The Nation!
OnMyWay, based in Charleston, SC, The Only Mobile App That Pays its Users Not to Text and Drive.
The #1 cause of death among young adults ages 16-27 is Car Accidents, with the majority related to Distracted Driving.
OnMyWay’s mission is to reverse this epidemic through positive rewards. Users get paid for every mile they do not text and drive and can refer their friends to get compensated for them as well.
The money earned can then be used for Cash Cards, Gift Cards, Travel Deals and Much, Much More….
The company also makes it a point to let users know that OnMyWay does NOT sell users data and only tracks them for purposes of providing a better experience while using the app.
The OnMyWay app is free to download and is currently available on both the App Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android @ OnMyWay; Drive Safe, Get Paid.
Download App Now – https://r.onmyway.com
Sponsors and advertisers can contact the company directly through their website @ www.onmyway.com
OnMyWay is the Only Texting and Driving Solution That Pays
Trusted and 
By Millions of OnMyWay Mobile App Users