Unexpected Absences: How Mark Stone and Cale Makar’s Game 2 Sidelines Could Change the Western Conference Final Forever
Tactical Impact On Colorado
Without Makar, Colorado’s entire defensive rotation changes. He normally drives play at five‑on‑five, quarterbacks the top power play, and handles the toughest defensive assignments. His ability to skate the puck out of trouble and turn blocked shots into rush chances is central to how the Avalanche wants to play.
In Game 1, Colorado struggled to exit cleanly and spent long stretches hemmed in its own zone. That issue only grows more serious without Makar’s outlet passing and transition game. Expect more conservative puck management from the remaining defensemen, shorter shifts, and a greater emphasis on chip‑and‑chase entries instead of controlled rushes.
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