The Colorado Avalanche got hit with a double nightmare Thursday night in Ottawa, losing superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar to injury just 1:04 apart in the second period before ultimately falling 4-3 in overtime. This wasn’t just any loss; it was a brutal blow that leaves the team, and likely the entire league, reeling about what comes next.
The Double Disaster and the Epic Comeback That Wasn’t
Colorado rolled into Ottawa riding a two-game winning streak, even bagging a commanding 6-3 road victory over Toronto, and were looking to claw their way back to .500 away from Ball Arena after some early road struggles. Instead, everything went sideways. MacKinnon and Makar, two of the best players in the game, both went down with injuries within seconds of each other in the second period, neither finishing the game. To make it worse, both incidents happened with the Avalanche already trailing 2-0. Yet, somehow, the Avs dug deep. They erased that two-goal deficit, turning it into a 3-2 lead by midway through the third, thanks to power-play goals from Artturi Lehkonen and Gabe Landeskog, plus a sweet shorthanded snipe from Parker Kelly. It was an incredible show of grit, even without their top two guys on the ice. But sports can be cruel. Drake Batherson found the equalizer with just 3:56 left in regulation, and then Shane Pinto sealed the deal with his second of the night in overtime, sending Colorado home with just a single point from a game they fought so hard to win.
Wedgewood’s Woes and Makar’s Lingering Questions
Amidst the chaos of the superstar injuries and the blown lead, goalie Scott Wedgewood also couldn’t catch a break. He surrendered two goals early but then settled in, holding Ottawa off the board for over 40 minutes. He was a mere 3:56 away from feeling a whole lot better about his play, from finally snapping a four-game winless streak. Instead, he fell to 1-3-2 on the season, continuing to average four goals against per game. But let’s be real, the biggest worry here is the health of MacKinnon and Makar. Losing them simultaneously is a monumental hit. The memory of seeing the Avalanche lose both of their biggest stars in one game like that is just wild. Especially for Makar, whose injury history has been a talking point. He dealt with an issue late last season in Calgary that plagued him through the playoffs, and he never really seemed to shake those problems heading into training camp this year. He’s had flashes of brilliance, sure, but by his own sky-high standards, it’s been a relatively underwhelming start to the season for him. Just recently, he seemed to be dealing with discomfort against Detroit on Saturday before he even had to leave Sunday’s practice.
What’s Next?
This becomes a pivotal, make-or-break stretch for Colorado. If either MacKinnon or Makar faces an extended absence, the challenge is immense. If both are out? Well, that’s just a whole different level of tough. Every shift, every game, every play, it all matters now more than ever for this team.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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