Makar beats Hughes to rookie D-man playoff points record
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar and Vancouver Canucks blue-liner Quinn Hughes spent the regular season dueling it out in the Calder Trophy race, and now the two are battling for a spot in the postseason record book.
Makar set the NHL record for the most single-postseason points from a rookie defenseman on Wednesday, according to NHL Public Relations.
Cale Makar scores and boosts his 2020 postseason totals to 4-11—15 in 14 games. He established an NHL record for points by a rookie defenseman in a single playoff year. #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/QbhZZwhjxg
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) September 3, 2020
Hughes is just one point behind, and his Vancouver Canucks are back in action Thursday night, so he could easily pass Makar. However, Makar's Avs forced a Game 7 on Wednesday, so he'll get at least one more chance to add to his total.
| Stat | Makar | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| GP | 14 | 15 |
| G | 4 | 1 |
| A | 11 | 13 |
Makar now also owns the rookie defenseman all-time playoff points record, according to StatsCentre. He made his NHL debut in the postseason last year and notched six points in 10 games. His 21 playoff points as a rookie blue-liner push him past Chris Chelios' previous record of 20, which he set in the 1984 and 1985 postseasons with the Montreal Canadiens.