The Avalanche ruled out defenseman Cale Makar for Game 1 of the Western Conference final against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.

Makar was on the ice ahead of morning skate on Wednesday morning, but Jared Bednar said the Avalanche will play without their star defenseman for at least one game.

“He is not (playing),” Bednar said. “I expect him back. I think he’s doing a lot better. He’s on the ice again this morning, feeling pretty good, so I’ve got him as day-to-day.”

In Makar’s absence, defenseman Jack Ahcan again will dress for the Avalanche.

Makar is Colorado’s top defenseman and has averaged nearly 25 minutes per game throughout the playoffs but has been dealing with a mystery injury for a few weeks. He left Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild for several minutes before returning and grabbed around his right shoulder a few times during Colorado’s Game 5 win over the Wild.

While the Avalanche will play without Makar, they will get some other important players back in the lineup. Both Artturi Lehkonen and Sam Malinski will return after missing the final two games of the series against the Wild. Everyone else on the roster is healthy enough to play. Lehkonen is expected to play on a line with Brock Nelson and Nicolas Roy.

Game 1 between the Avalanche and Golden Knights is 6 p.m. Wednesday (ESPN).