Makar Explains Avalanche Mess After Injury Return

Cale Makar is back, but the Avalanche did not exactly give him a postcard welcome in Game 3. The bigger story is how a star defenseman reacts when he returns from injury and the team immediately stumbles in front of him. That kind of night can expose everything from timing to structure to the uncomfortable gap between being healthy and being fully sharp. Colorado knows the margin shrinks fast in the playoffs, and a game like this leaves a mark that goes beyond the box score.