Avs star Cale Makar hits boards awkwardly, leaves game, returns

*** This story has been updated below ***

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is in the locker room after a very awkward hit into the boards.

The play happened on Sunday afternoon during the second period with the Buffalo Sabres. Makar took a shot from Sabres winger Kyle Okposo and then lost an edge. His legs twisted at an unfortunate angle and he immediately went to the locker room while trying to catch his breath.

Take a look for yourself.

Cale Makar has gone to the locker room after taking a hit and going into the boards awkwardly pic.twitter.com/qj1Qrz6sjs

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 29, 2023

No penalty was called on the play, although social media was outraged nothing was done about it by the referees.

Nathan MacKinnon lost his cool a few moments later, getting a two-minute penalty to go along with a 10-minute misconduct.

Colorado, who suffered its first loss of the season on Thursday in Pittsburgh, trails Buffalo 3-0 after two periods.

We’ll update this story if head coach Jared Bednar provides a status update on Makar postgame, or if he potentially returns to the ice.

(Update 1:05 p.m.) –

Somehow, someway Makar is back on the ice to start the third period in Buffalo. It looks like he dodged a major injury, and Avs fans can breathe a deep sigh of relief.

Cale Makar is back on the ice playing. He came to the bench to start the third, went to the room, and now is back on the ice.

— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) October 29, 2023

***
​

Related

Cale Makar voted NHL’s best defenseman a fifth year in a rowAvalanche name new head coach for AHL affiliate EaglesFive most important Avalanche games during the 2026-27 seasonNHL drops schedule for 2026-27 Avalanche seasonFirst Avalanche game of 2026-27 season announced, it’s in SeptemberAvs make three more depth signings, including forward with 477 NHL games