The NHL\u2019s Western Conference Final between the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights heads back to Sin City for Game 3 tonight, and all everyone is talking about is the health status of Avalanche star defenceman Cale Maker.<\/p>\n
Vegas holds a 2-0 series lead after sweeping the first two games on the road, and are firmly in the driver\u2019s seat, heading back to home ice.<\/p>\n
So this morning\u2019s Avalanche skate at T-Mobile Arena is going to be a stakeout.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will tell us when he is ready to play,\u201d said Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, adding Makar has been in the gym strengthening his \u201cupper body\u201d injury, likely a shoulder, and has been on the ice testing it. Makar will have to figure out his pain tolerance, Bednar added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to find a way to produce,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Golden Knights are up after two tight games in Colorado, so expect the same tonight. It’s desperation time for the Avalanche.<\/p>\n
Lots of buzz about the Golden Knights\u2019 Mitch Marner being a betting favourite for Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP at this point, but don\u2019t sleep on Vegas goalie Carter Hart, whose excellent play the entire playoffs is becoming a real talking point. The Avs have scored just three times in this series so far.<\/p>\n
Credit Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella for seeing what he had in Hart, who was third on the goalie depth chart when Tortorella took over as head coach March 29, with just a handful of games left in the regular season.<\/p>\n
The Golden Knights have vaulted up in Betway Stanley Cup futures today, at +200, behind the Carolina Hurricanes, at +160, but ahead of the Avalanche at +400 and the Montreal Canadiens at +425.<\/p>\n
The Avalanche have led the way in shortest Stanley Cup odds the entire season, so that tells us the impact the absence of Makar is having, and how important he is to the Colorado lineup.<\/p>\n