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Avalanche suffer shootout loss in Anaheim. But Cale Makar’s lack of playing time in OT causes concern

Nov 30, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) battles for the puck against Arizona Coyotes left wing Lawson Crouse (67) in the first period at Mullett Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Cale Makar didn’t play in the overtime period of the Avalanche’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. He also had one shift, which lasted 41 seconds, in the final 6:01 of regulation. Makar was on the bench for the entire five-minute extra period but did not see any ice time. Instead, it was defensemen Devon Toews and Bowen Byram — the duo that combined for all three Colorado goals — who alternated shifts in the extra frame.

Head coach Jared Bednar told reporters at Honda Center that Makar was not available for overtime. It’s unclear at this time if he’ll dress for tomorrow’s road trip finale in L.A. against the Kings.

The Avs’ shootout loss was their second consecutive defeat after regulation. Only once did a game reach the overtime period through the first 22 of the season before this road trip. Colorado paces the NHL with 14 regulation wins.

Thanks to two goals from Byram early in the first period, the Avs took a 2-0 lead before the game was 10 minutes old. But after Ducks center Adam Henrique capitalized on the power play, a tally from Toews made it 3-1 in the opening period. Goalie John Gibson was perfect the rest of the way for Anaheim, stopping all 23 shots he faced in the final 45 minutes.

The Ducks evened the score in the second. They got another power-play goal, this time from Alex Killorn to tie it up at 3-3. Rookie Leo Carlsson also scored earlier in the frame to pull the Ducks within one.

The lone shootout goal came from Carlsson, who deked Avs goalie Ivan Prosvetov to give Anaheim the extra point. Carlsson also put an end to Anaheim’s eight-game losing streak, which began with an 8-2 beat down in Colorado several weeks ago. Jonathan Drouin, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen were all stopped by Gibson in the shootout.

 

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