The Colorado Avalanche will be without one of their star players, Cale Makar, in Game Five against the Seattle Kraken. Makar has been suspended by the NHL due to a hit on Seattle’s Jared McCann during the fourth playoff game. The absence of Makar could prove to be challenging for the Avalanche as they try to secure a win and move on to the next round of the Stanley Cup playoffs (CBS News, KDVR, Colorado Hockey Now).
In addition to the suspension of Makar, the Avalanche are also dealing with the absence of Valeri Nichushkin, who left the team for personal reasons. The team has been tight-lipped about the details of Nichushkin’s departure, but more information has recently come to light (Mile High Hockey).
Despite these setbacks, the Avalanche remain a formidable opponent. In Game Four, they faced off against the Kraken and came up short with a final score of 2-3. Jordan Eberle of the Kraken scored a power-play goal in overtime, sealing the win for Seattle (VAVEL.com, The Rink Live).
The Avalanche will have the home-ice advantage in Game Five and will need to capitalize on it in order to secure a win. However, the Kraken are not to be underestimated – they have been playing well throughout the playoffs and are determined to tie the series up (USA TODAY Sportsbook Wire, Sports Illustrated).
The first round series between the two teams has been intense, with most of the games being close. The Avalanche will need to bring their best game in order to move on to the next round, but with the suspension of Makar and the absence of Nichushkin, it will certainly be a challenge (Last Word on Sports).
