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Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar will be seeking his second Stanley Cup title with his team, but will have to take a seat off the ice for the remainder of the regular season.
Bednar was hit in the face with a puck Saturday night during a 3-2 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The team said Bednar suffered facial fractures and a corneal abrasion, but is expected to make a full recovery, without the need for surgery, and return to the sideline for the playoffs.
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Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar talks with center Martin Necas during the third period of an NHL game against the Calgary Flames in Denver on March 30, 2026. (David Zalubowski/AP)
“It’s certainly a little disconcerting. It’s scary when pucks fly in there,” assistant coach Nolan Pratt said after the game. “It happens all the time, and unfortunately tonight, so it takes a little second to recalibrate and then get back to it.”
Pratt and Dave Hakstol will likely coach the team for the final two games of the regular season. The Avalanche will go on the road to play against the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.
2026 NHL STANLEY CUP ODDS: COLORADO AVALANCHE, TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING TOP BOARD
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar talks to players during a timeout in the third period of an NHL game against the Calgary Flames in Denver on April 9, 2026. (David Zalubowski/AP)
The Avalanche, who won the Stanley Cup title in 2022, clinched first place in the Western Conference on Thursday night with 115 points.
Colorado star Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL with 52 goals this season and is third in the league with 74 assists. He is also third in points with 126, behind Nikita Kucherov (128) of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Oilers star Connor McDavid (133).
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar watches from the team box during the second period of an NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks in Denver on April 1, 2026. (David Zalubowski/AP)
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The Avalanche have made the playoffs in all but one season under Bednar.
