MacKinnon and Makar Are Hurt: A Fantasy Hockey Game Plan for Colorado's Stars and Teammates This Weekend

Fantasy hockey managers woke up Friday to the kind of news nobody wants on a weekend. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, two of the most valuable players in any fantasy format, both left the Colorado Avalanche's 4-3 overtime loss in Ottawa on Thursday night with lower-body injuries, and the team has not said how serious either one is ^[1][2][4].

Here is what we know, what we don't, and how to set your lineup while you wait.

What We Know So Far

MacKinnon's night ended with 8:15 left in the second period. He grabbed his right side after trying to reverse-hit Senators defenseman Artem Zub, sat on the bench for a few minutes and then headed down the tunnel, NHL.com reported ^[1]. ESPN said he went to his knees holding his right hip after Zub shoved him in a battle for the puck ^[2].

Makar went first. NHL.com reported that he took a four-second shift midway through the period, came back for one 23-second shift and then stayed on the bench the rest of the frame ^[1]. ESPN described it as a non-contact injury, with Makar favoring his right leg ^[2]. One detail worth noting for managers: Makar had left practice early on Sunday for what the team called precautionary reasons ^[1].

Coach Jared Bednar had no update after the game and was not sure whether either player would be ready for Saturday's game in Montreal, ESPN reported ^[2]. HockeyFeed, via Yahoo Sports, noted that no further details were released on the nature or severity of either injury ^[4]. Bednar summed up the night by saying his team was "running without a couple of horses" for half the game, according to NHL.com ^[3].

The stakes are obvious. MacKinnon entered the night with 30 points, 10 goals and 20 assists, fifth in the NHL and tops on the team, and Makar had 23 points, five goals and 18 assists, third among the league's defensemen, NHL.com reported ^[1].

Abby's Game Plan

Do not drop either player. No matter how full your bench is, these are not players you cut on a hunch. Until Colorado announces a timeline, the right move is to hold and wait.

Use your IR slot if you get the chance. If the Avalanche place either player on injured reserve, slide him into your league's IR spot right away and use the open roster space for a short-term add.

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Watch Saturday morning closely. Colorado plays in Montreal on Saturday and then does not play again until Wednesday in Utah, the end of a four-game road trip ^[1]. That stretch is a gift for weekly leagues: even if both stars miss Saturday, you lose only one game before the next decision point. In daily leagues, check the morning reports before Saturday's lineup lock and have a replacement ready.

Know who stepped up Thursday. Even without their two stars, the Avalanche scored three straight goals to take a 3-2 lead ^[3]. Artturi Lehkonen scored on the power play, Parker Kelly added a short-handed goal, and captain Gabriel Landeskog scored on the power play off a setup from Brock Nelson, NHL.com reported ^[3]. If MacKinnon and Makar miss time, those forwards will be asked to carry more of the load, and the power-play minutes have to go to someone. Lehkonen, Landeskog and Nelson are the names to check on your waiver wire, especially in deeper leagues where they may be available.

Be careful with Colorado's goalies this weekend. Scott Wedgewood made 22 saves Thursday ^[3], but Saturday's opponent is no soft landing. Montreal beat Boston 5-2 on Thursday to stretch its point streak to 12 games and move to the top of the Atlantic Division ^[5]. If you are streaming a goalie, there may be safer options on the board.

The Bigger Picture for Colorado

The Avalanche are 11-6-3, third in the Central Division, and have earned at least a point in four straight games ^[3]. They also showed real backbone Thursday, rallying from a two-goal hole and forcing overtime before Shane Pinto won it for Ottawa at 2:08 of the extra period ^[3].

That kind of resilience matters for fantasy, too. A team that keeps competing keeps producing points, and Colorado's supporting cast just proved it can score on special teams without its stars on the ice.

Abby's Take

Injuries are the hardest part of this game, for the players most of all. MacKinnon and Makar have given hockey fans years of brilliance, and the first hope here is simply that both are back healthy soon.

For your roster, the lesson is patience. Fantasy titles are rarely lost in November, but they are often lost by panic moves made on a Friday morning with no information. Hold your stars, plan for Saturday, and grab a short-term fill-in only if the news turns bad.

And if you want a weekend challenge while you wait for the update, the free Liberty Bell Fantasy games are always open at /fantasy.