Makar, Helm out indefinitely for Avalanche

Makar, a defenseman, and Helm, a forward, each missed a second straight game when Colorado won 6-2 at the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

Makar recently missed nine games in a 10-game stretch from Feb. 9-March 1 with a concussion, and four games with an upper-body injury from Jan. 18-24.

Helm, who did not make his season debut until Jan. 2 because of offseason hip surgery, has been limited to 11 games this season (no points) and did not play in a 4-3 overtime win against the Sharks on Tuesday with a lower-body injury. Coach Jared Bednar said Helm’s injury is a new issue.

Makar and Helm will be with the Avalanche for their game at the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

“I don’t know the plan, but everybody’s traveling,” Bednar said after the game Thursday.”

Makar, who leads the NHL in average ice time per game (26:23), is third on Colorado with 66 points (17 goals, 49 assists) in 60 games this season. Last season, he won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman and the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs when the Avalanche won the championship.

Colorado is also without forwards Gabriel Landeskog, who hasn’t played all season because of knee surgery, and Artturi Lehkonen, who was expected to be sidelined 4-6 weeks after breaking his finger March 13. Defenseman Josh Manson hasn’t played since March 1 because of a lower-body injury, and goalie Pavel Francouz has been out since Feb. 7 with a lower-body injury.

“Out of all the injuries, I don’t really have anything to report except for the fact that ‘Frankie’ is … basically a full go right now,” Bednar said, according to The Denver Gazette. “Then we’ll see how he handles the next few days. If everything goes smoothly then I would predict that he’s the closest to returning into our lineup.”

The Avalanche (47-24-6), who are tied for the Central Division lead with the Dallas Stars, on Tuesday clinched a berth in the playoffs, which begin April 17.

“We’re facing our share of adversity, but the guys that are healthy and able to play are digging in and playing hard as a team,” Bednar said Tuesday. “I guess that’s all you can ask for. We’re wishing the best for ourselves when it comes to some guys returning from injury. But again, other guys are stepping up and finding ways to get the job done, and that’s all you can ask.”