Makarfindsnewhome with Calvert’s family

In his second week in the NHL, Avalanche rookie Cale Makar moved out of the team hotel and found a home. Matt Calvert’s home.

Makar, 20, moved in with teammate Calvert, 29, and his family last week — a week after Makar made his NHL debut .

“It’s unbelievable. I can’t thank them enough, taking me in for this stretch,” Makar said Wednesday after an optional practice in which Calvert participated. “It definitely takes a lot of stress off my life in terms of meals and everything.”

This is not Makar’s first billet situation — a staple of triple-A and junior hockey where young players live with a family who supports the local team. The Calgary native had a billet family in Brooks, Alberta, for two years when he played for the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

That family had two young children, ages 3 and 1. Calvert and his wife have two sons the same age.

“I love kids,” Makar said. “So it’s been a lot of fun. And it gives me a chance to learn from a real pro. I’m a fan of the game, still, and a student of the game as well. Anytime the playoffs are on at the house, we’re watching. I’m really fortunate to be able to stay with them.”

Calvert, who is expected to return to the lineup for Game 4 on Thursday against San Jose after missing Tuesday’s Game 3 4-2 loss with an upper-body injury, also lived with a billet family while playing junior hockey in Canada. Calvert and Makar talk a lot of hockey at home.

“He’s new to it, all right? So he doesn’t know what the Sharks are like, the Flames are like. So you help him out when you can,” Calvert said. “He keeps the basement clean, keeps his area clean. Other than that, that’s all he’s got to worry about — that and playing hockey.”

Calvert has been medically cleared to return for Game 4 but Avs coach Jared Bednar said he is questionable. Calvert absorbed a massive mid-ice check from San Jose’s Brent Burns in the waning minutes of Game 2 — just after he delivered what turned into the game-winning assist on Nathan MacKinnon’s empty-net goal.

Footnotes.

Injured San Jose captain Joe Pavelski skated Wednesday in San Jose and could potentially play in the series. Pavelski, who led the Sharks with 38 goals in the regular season, suffered a head injury late in Game 7 against Vegas in the first round. … With Calvert’s expected return, the Avalanche is at full strength and has season-high reinforcements with a handful of additions from the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League. Forwards Logan O’Connor, A.J. Greer and Dominic Toninato, defenseman Anton Lindholm and goalie Pavel Francouz have joined the Avs and practiced Wednesday.