Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar named NHL First Star of the Month for October

Cale Makar (Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar of Calgary, Alberta was named the NHL First Star of the Month for October according to TSN on Tuesday. Makar had a spectacular first month of the season offensively. In only 11 games, he had four goals and 15 assists for 19 points.

Also in the first month, Makar had nine power-play points, one game-winning goal, 32 shots on goal, 11 hits, and 14 blocked shots. Makar’s game-winning goal came on October 24 in a 5-1 Avalanche win over the Utah Ice Hockey Club. Makar scored from Mikko Rantanen and Nikolai Kovalenko at 18:20 of the first period, which gave Colorado a 2-0 lead at the time. Makar led the NHL in October in assists, power play assists (eight), and power play points.

Makar had two three-point games. He had one goal and two assists for Colorado in a 5-3 Avalanche loss to the Boston Bruins  on October 16, and one goal and two assists for three points for Colorado in a 4-1 Avalanche win over the San Jose Sharks on October 20.

However, even though Makar was strong offensively, he did have a good month defensively. He was a -7, and his current plus/minus rating is a -8. It is tied for the worst on the Avalanche alongside Casey Mittelstadt, and defenseman Josh Manson.

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