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What Avalanche star Cale Makar said about Game 3 disaster after injury return
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The Colorado Avalanche stunningly dropped the first two games of the Western Conference Finals at home against the Vegas Golden Knights , but the return of star defenseman Cale Makar seemed to energize them in Game 3. Makar missed the first two games of the series with a shoulder injury, but he helped the Avs get a 3-0 lead after the first period of Game 3 on Sunday night.
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Then, a collapse followed. The Avs gave up three goals in the second period and another two in the third of a 5-3 loss that puts them in a 3-0 hole. Now, Colorado must rattle off four wins in a row before losing another game and being sent home.
After the game, Makar didn't hold back about the Avs' mentality moving forward after the loss, via ESPN.
"I mean, obviously it's our season on the line. Our mentality's been like that, and it should have been like that today," Makar said. "I felt like it was. It was desperate at times. But we gave them a couple too many opportunities and they capitalized on that."
Makar didn't record a point in his return, but he was very impactful in his 27 minutes of ice time and made everyone around him better as usual. The two-time Norris Trophy winner made a number of excellent defensive plays early in the game that allowed the Avs to build their lead.
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Unfortunately for Colorado, a number of defensive blunders doomed them in the final two periods. Despite outshooting the Golden Knights for much of the game, the Avs gave up grade-A chance after grade-A chance, and Vegas has been very proficient in capitalizing on those chances so far in this series.
The Avs also lost star center Nathan MacKinnon to an injury after he blocked a shot with his right knee in the second period of Game 3, so it will be a massive uphill battle for them to get back into the series now. They will get a chance to start that quest in Vegas in Game 4 on Tuesday night.
Related: Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar injuries get no clarity from Avalanche coach Jared Bednar
Related: 3 Avalanche most to blame for shocking 3-0 collapse in Game 3 vs. Golden Knights
