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The Colorado Avalanche’s head coach will not travel with the team this week due to sustaining injuries after being hit with a puck during a game over the weekend.
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Coach Jared Bednar will stay at home as the team travels for two of its last regular season games in Canada, according to a statement from the team. Bednar was diagnosed with facial fractures and a corneal abrasion but is expected to make a full recovery without surgery.
During Saturday night’s game against the Las Vegas Knights, a stray puck hit by Knights defenseman Keegan Kolesar went over the boards and into the Avalanches’ bench. Bednar was struck on the right side of his face by the puck and taken to the hospital to be evaluated.
Assistant coach Nolan Pratt, who stepped in after Bednar left during the game, told reporters after Saturday night’s game that the hit was “unnerving.”
“It’s scary when the pucks are flying in there, it happens all the time,” Pratt said, adding that it was “unfortunate tonight.”
But the team recalibrated and returned to play, Pratt said.
The team lost in overtime against the Knights, but the Avalanche has already secured its playoff spot.
Pratt and fellow assistant coach Dave Hakstol will lead the Avalanche in the Monday night game against the Edmonton Oilers and Tuesday’s game against the Calgary Flames. The team will return to Denver’s Ball Arena for its final home game before playoffs on Thursday.
