Makar Sets Career High In OT Win- Takeaways

The Colorado Avalanche met the Edmonton Oilers for the first time this season on Saturday in a game that saw Cale Makar set a career-high in ice time and score the overtime winner.

The Avalanche were trying to work their way out of a five-game slump. Several key injuries have kept the Avalanche from performing up to their expectations this season so far, but forward Evan Rodrigues returns to the lineup tonight after missing two games with a wrist injury. There has been concern lately as some of the stars are taking on too much ice time. Cale Makar has been playing over 28 minutes most nights and this could lead to exhaustion.

First Period

• The penalty kill needed to keep a better eye on Connor McDavid. Basically, the star center set up the first goal for the Oilers all by himself.
• J.T. Compher has been the best in the forecheck and setting the example for the team. He even drew a penalty as he started to get a breakaway and was taken down by Leon Draisaitl. 
• The Avalanche need to keep the pressure up with all four lines
• Faceoffs were killing the Avalanche as they won only 36 percent total in the period.

Second Period

• Forwards need to connect better on their passes, they are passing too far ahead or behind the skater and missing the pass. 
• Their failure to push hard through the neutral zone led to fewer chances in the offensive zone for the Avalanche. 
• The defensemen needed to get more physical down low in front of the Avalanche net. The goal that was reviewed, the defensemen did not do enough to clear in front of Alexandar Georgiev.

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Third Period

• Nathan MacKinnon read the play perfectly and even before it started. He was turning up ice and starting to accelerate before Makar even had the puck.
• Brad Hunt has been seeing more of an increased role with the Avalanche as the injuries mount. He was starting to see time on the penalty kill recently and now got his first goal in an Avalanche sweater.

MacKinnon was double-teamed while he was trying to carry the puck out of the offensive zone to reset the play. The puck slipped away from him down to Makar and he ran right through two defenders to get the shot off in the left faceoff circle past Stuart Skinner for the winner. 

The line combinations were switched up a bit for the first time this season as Mikko Rantanen was moved down to the second line and Rodrigues was moved to the top line with MacKinnon. Coach Jared Bednar stated that he liked the lines and how the chemistry was.

Player Of The Game

Cale Makar— He logged a career-high 33:09 of time on ice last night while gaining one assist and one goal during overtime. Makar was a plus-3 and had two shots on goal. He is rewriting how defensemen play the game for future generations.

CALE CALLED GAME! 🥬

Cale Makar (@Cmakar8) caps off a three-goal comeback for the @Avalanche with his @Energizer overtime winner! pic.twitter.com/vNtxGNEqmM

— NHL (@NHL) January 8, 2023