Colorado Avalanche star defenceman Cale Makar will have a hearing Tuesday following a hit on Seattle Kraken leading-scorer Jared McCann in Monday’s Game 4.
The hit occurred midway through the first period after McCann was stopped on a shorthanded breakaway. As McCann skated to the corner following his shot, Makar hit him hard into the boards.
McCann was injured on the play and has already been ruled out for Game 5. Makar was initially whistled for a five-minute major but the call was reduced to a two-minute minor following review.
“Late hit. Really late. No puck in play. Our 40-goal scorer not available for the rest of the game,” Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol said. “I disagree with (the penalty call), obviously, as I assessed it and looked at it live and for sure looking at it after on video.”
McCann led the Kraken with 40 goals and 70 points this season. The Kraken won Game 4 3-2 in overtime to tie the series.
“It was a hockey play. I’m assuming he was going to the corner because it was coming down. I didn’t really look. Just unfortunate how that happened,” Makar said.
Game 5 is set for Wednesday in Denver.