Avalanche Coach Jared Bednar Returns to Bench After Injury Scare

Jared Bednar’s return to the Colorado Avalanche bench marks a significant moment for the team as they prepare for the regular-season finale against Seattle. The Avalanche coach, who recently took a puck to the face, has learned a valuable lesson: keep your hands out of your suit pockets while on the bench. After missing two games for evaluation and recovery, Bednar is ready to lead his team again.

Last weekend, Bednar was struck by a puck during a game against Vegas, which resulted in facial fractures and a corneal abrasion. The incident occurred early in the third period when a shot from Vegas forward Keegan Kolesar ricocheted off the boards and hit him squarely in the right cheek. “I would have had to have been Derek Jeter to not get hit with that one,” Bednar quipped, referencing the Hall of Fame shortstop. He added, “Whenever you get hit in the face or the head, it always stinks.” Fortunately, after undergoing a series of tests, he received positive news regarding his scans and has since been cleared to return.

During his absence, assistant coaches Nolan Pratt and Dave Hakstol stepped up, guiding the Avalanche to a successful 2-0 road trip, including a thrilling shootout victory against Edmonton and a solid win over Calgary. Bednar kept a close eye on the games from afar, noting, “It was interesting to listen to the opposing teams’ broadcast talk about our team and talk about their teams as well, which I don’t really get to do very often.” His analysis from the sidelines only heightened his anticipation for returning to the bench.

As the Avalanche gear up for the playoffs starting Sunday, Bednar faces the challenge of navigating his roster, which currently includes absences from defenseman Josh Manson (upper body) and forward Nazem Kadri (finger). However, he remains optimistic. “I expect our whole roster to be options for Game 1 of the playoffs,” he said, instilling confidence as the team looks to capitalize on their top record in the NHL this season.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.