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Avs defenseman Cale Makar scores playoff goal in NHL debut

Posted at 11:06 PM, Apr 15, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-16 15:44:50-04
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar drops back to defend in the second period of Game 3 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Calgary Flames, Monday, April 15, 2019, in Denver. The game was the first in the NHL for Makar. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DENVER (AP) – Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar scored a playoff goal in his NHL debut during Game 3 against Calgary, his favorite childhood team.

Makar zipped through the neutral zone Monday night and beat Flames goaltender Mike Smith with a wrist shot late in the first period to make it 3-0.

The 20-year-old Makar signed a three-year deal with Colorado on Sunday – a day after Massachusetts lost in the Frozen Four championship game.

From Calgary, Makar and his family were big Flames fans. He joked they are “fully Avs converted now.”

Makar, the fourth overall pick by Colorado in 2017, had 49 points for UMass and won the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player. He practiced Monday morning and impressed his new Avalanche teammates.