Colorado defenceman Cale Makar was been suspended one game by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Tuesday.
The discipline stems from a late hit Makar made on Seattle’s Jared McCann midway through the first period of Game 4 of the Avalanche-Kraken series on Monday night. McCann had just taken a shot on a breakaway and was peeling off toward the corner, where Makar followed and checked him into the boards. The puck was nowhere near either player and had ricocheted into the crowd.
McCann was injured on the play and has already been ruled out for Game 5. Makar was initially whistled for a five-minute major but the call was reduced to a two-minute minor for interference following a review.
In the video announcing the suspension, the Department of Player Safety said the play was “well outside the allowable window for finishing a check.”
“While we have heard Makar’s assertion that he assumed that the puck would bounce into the corner and that the play would continue, the onus is on Makar to ensure this occurs before intiating contact.”
It was announced early Tuesday morning that Makar would have a hearing with the league over the hit.
“It was a hockey play,” Makar said after the game. “I’m assuming he was going to the corner because (the puck) was coming down. I didn’t really look. Just unfortunate how that happened.”
Makar is Colorado’s top defenceman, and has a goal and two assists so far this post-season, while averaging 23:50 minutes per game. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy last year as the playoff MVP. This is his first suspension.
McCann led the Kraken with 40 goals and 70 points this season. The Kraken won the game 3-2 in overtime to tie the series. Game 5 is Wednesday in Denver at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT and can be seen on Sportsnet and SN NOW.