NHL analysts Frankie Corrado and Carlo Colaiacovo weighed in on the ongoing debate between Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar as the top defenseman in the league.

DENVER — Cale Makar deflects not only shots but any mention of milestones related to him. It’s just the nature of the Colorado Avalanche’s dynamic defenseman. He’s not a big spotlight person even if he constantly finds himself in the limelight.

BOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Blues enter the matchup with the Colorado Avalanche after losing three games in a row. Colorado is 29-21-2 overall and 7-8-1 against the Central Division. The Avalanche have conceded 164 goals while scoring 169 for a +5 scoring differential.

Makar scored two goals in the first period and dished the game-winning assist in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Rangers.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, right, is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring ...

However, their defensive play appeared somewhat unstable, as both of the Jets' regulation goals stemmed from lapses in coverage in front of the net. Despite the loss, Cale Makar expressed strong admiration for Nathan MacKinnon, who scored a goal during the game.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, right, is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring against the Dallas Stars in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 18 ...

MacKinnon leads the NHL in points (77) and assists (58). Among NHL defensemen, Makar is first in goals (18), tied for first in points (56) and being for second in assists (38). Necas is seventh in the NHL in assists (41).

It’s become a pattern now — the Colorado Avalanche look like the better team for the better part of the first 40 minutes and then the final period is a problem.

Cale Makar scored twice and set up the tiebreaking goal by Artturi Lehkonen with 15 seconds remaining as the revamped Colorado Avalanche blew a pair of two-goal leads before earning a dramatic 5-4 victory over the host New York Rangers on Sunday afternoon.

Cale Makar scored twice and set up the tiebreaking goal by Artturi Lehkonen with 15 seconds remaining as the revamped Colorado Avalanche blew a pair of two-goal leads before earning a dramatic 5-4 victory over the host New York Rangers on Sunday afternoon.