Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar is sidelined, sidelined for at least two games, after a puck met his face during Saturday night's overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The incident, which occurred in the third period of the 3-2 defeat at Ball Arena, sent Bednar to a local hospital with facial fractures.
The immediate consequence sees assistant coaches Nolan Pratt and Dave Hakstol taking the helm for the team's upcoming two-game road swing through Alberta, facing the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames on Monday and Tuesday. Bednar will not accompany the team on this trip.
The puck struck Bednar on the right side of his face, interrupting the game. His absence is anticipated to last until the playoffs, though the exact timeline for his return remains unspecified. The Avalanche organization has not provided further details regarding the severity of his injuries beyond the initial report of fractures. This interruption casts a peculiar shadow over the team's final stretch of the regular season, leaving interim leadership in place for crucial matchups.
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