Cale Makar remaining out for Game 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights had many NHL fans wondering what it could mean for the rest of the Western Conference Final.

The Colorado Avalanche defenseman was ruled out Friday morning after coach Jared Bednar confirmed Makar would miss a second straight game with an upper-body injury.

After the update was shared by Elliotte Friedman on X, fans quickly reacted.

“This changes the series. Not that one player should. But their best defenseman, a point producer, quarterbacks the powerplay, great plus-minus player. If Vegas can snag Game 2 before going home, they’re in a great spot,” one user wrote.

Another fan pointed to Makar’s overall impact on Colorado’s game.

“That’s a massive blow for Colorado because Makar changes the entire pace structure and confidence of the team whenever he’s on the ice. In playoff hockey losing a player who can control games from the blue line affects every matchup immediately.”

Others questioned how the Avalanche planned to handle Vegas without him.

“Do they honestly think that they don’t need him against Vegas?” one user commented.

Another compared Colorado’s situation to playing short-handed in chess.

“Avalanche without Cale Makar is like trying to win a chess match without your queen. Technically possible, but nobody serious is betting on it.”

Others wondered what Makar’s condition might actually be.

“I wonder how bad his injury must be for him not to play when you hear players playing through MCL sprains, torn MCL, and fractured ribs,” one fan wrote.

Makar is still listed as day-to-day and has continued skating despite missing games. He took part in drills before Game 1 and returned for more work at the team facility ahead of Game 2, going through skating, passing, shooting and positioning exercises before joining Colorado’s optional morning skate.

Cale Makar’s Game 2 absence raises more questions for Colorado

Paul Bissonnette had already raised concerns about Colorado’s chances if Cale Makar could not return in the Vegas series. With the Avalanche defenseman now missing Game 2 as well, that question is still hanging over Colorado.

“If there’s no Makar this series they’re done… Vegas has all things clicking and obviously the superstars are being superstars, so I think if there’s no Makar, this series could end in 6 games,” Bissonnette said on Spittin’ Chiclets.

Colorado saw some of those concerns show up in Game 1. After the Avalanche’s 4-2 loss, coach Jared Bednar said there was “a trickle-down effect” from playing without Makar, though he added that the team still had to find a way through it.

Bednar had to lean heavily on the rest of his defensemen in the opener. Devon Toews, Brett Kulak, Sam Malinski, Josh Manson and Brent Burns all took on bigger roles. Four of those five defensemen logged more than 19 minutes, while Jack Ahcan saw less than eight minutes of ice time.

Before the Western Conference Final began, Cale Makar had four goals and one assist in nine playoff games and had played 29 shifts in Colorado’s comeback win over Minnesota that closed out the previous round.