Knights captain misses 5th straight game, Cale Makar sits out Game 2 for Avalanche

DENVER — The Vegas Golden Knights found a way to not just take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Final, and not just by winning both games at Ball Arena.

They did it without the services of their captain.

Mark Stone missed his fifth straight game with a lower-body injury, but the Knights improved to 4-1 without him after the 3-1 win in Game 2 over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday.

Stone took part in the Knights’ optional morning skate at Ball Arena but remained on the ice afterward skating with skills coach Sean Farrell.

The 34-year-old has not played since Game 4 of the second round against Anaheim due to a lower-body injury that kept forced him to leave Game 3.

“We’re a good team. Probably a better team with (Stone),” Tortorella said. “But as we always talk about when we talk about our team, we understand the situation that needs to be done when things happen.”

The Knights haven’t needed to rush their emotional leader back into the lineup, and they’re two wins from the Stanley Cup Final by finding a way to win without him.

Makar misses Game 2

On the flip side, the Avalanche are in an 0-2 hole without their Norris Trophy defenseman Cale Makar.

Colorado will have to try and even the series without defenseman Cale Makar, who will also miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury.

Makar was a full-contact participant in practice Thursday and skated with his team Friday morning, but coach Jared Bednar ruled him out.

Bednar said after the game that there’s urgency to get him back, but not just because the Avalanche are down two games in a best-of-seven series for the first time since the 2020 second round against Dallas.

McNabb leaves, comes back

The Knights aren’t strangers to being down a defenseman in the middle of a game. They had to do it again Friday when Brayden McNabb left the first period with a lower-body injury.

McNabb appeared to take a skate to his leg. He limped down the tunnel with 6:20 remaining in the period. He didn’t return to the bench until 30 seconds left in the third.

“I think everyone just chipped in and contributed,” defenseman Noah Hanifin said. “I thought everyone did a good job. It happens. That’s playoff hockey. You’ve just got to find a way.”