Cale Makar's status unclear as Colorado Avalanche defenseman recovers from lower body injury

Colorado Avalanche Coach Jared Bednar said over the weekend he's not sure when Cale Makar will play next.

The star defenseman did not play the final 2:57 of the third period and overtime of a 4-3 shootout loss at Anaheim on Saturday night and he also was absent from the ice on Sunday in the Avs' 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

 Makar is recovering from a lower body injury.

In Sunday's loss Colorado clearly missed Makar, who leads the NHL with 27 assists. His 34 points is also tied with Vancouver's Quinn Hughes for most by a defenseman.

Bednar said before Sunday's game he did not know whether the injury would force Makar to miss more than the one game.

With Makar unavailable, rookie defenseman Sam Malinski has been placed into the lineup.  

The Avalanche face the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday at Ball Arena in Denver.