Avalanche Coach Bednar Out After Puck Injury

Facial fractures and corneal abrasion will sideline Colorado's head coach for final two regular-season games.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 4:06pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the impact of a puck striking a coach on the sideline.An artistic rendering of the chaotic moment when a puck struck Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, disrupting the team's final games before the NHL playoffs.Denver Today

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar will miss the team's final two regular-season road games in Canada after sustaining facial fractures and a corneal abrasion when he was hit by a puck during a game against the Vegas Golden Knights on April 11, 2026. Bednar was immediately assisted to the locker room and transported to a local hospital for evaluation and a CT scan.

Why it matters

The Avalanche have already clinched the top overall seed for the NHL playoffs, but Bednar's injury is still a significant setback as the team prepares for the postseason. The incident also highlights the ongoing risks and hazards that coaches and staff face on the bench during high-intensity hockey games.

The details

The injury occurred with 16:39 remaining in the third period, when a puck hit by Golden Knights defenseman Keegan Kolesar flew over the boards and struck Bednar on the right side of his face. The Avalanche announced that Bednar was diagnosed with facial fractures and a corneal abrasion, but is expected to make a full recovery without requiring surgery.

  • The incident occurred during the Avalanche's game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
  • Bednar will miss the team's final two regular-season road games against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, April 13 and the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, April 14.

The players

Jared Bednar

The head coach of the Colorado Avalanche who sustained facial fractures and a corneal abrasion after being hit by a puck during a game.

Keegan Kolesar

A defenseman for the Vegas Golden Knights whose shot struck Bednar during the game on April 11.

Nolan Pratt

An assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche who will lead the team in Bednar's absence.

Dave Hakstol

An assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche who will also lead the team in Bednar's absence.

Josh Manson

A defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche who left the game against the Golden Knights with an upper-body injury.

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What they’re saying

“It's certainly a little unnerving. It's scary when the pucks are flying in there. It happens all the time, and unfortunate tonight, so it takes a little second to sort of recalibrate and then get back to it.”

— Nolan Pratt, Assistant Coach

What’s next

The Avalanche are scheduled to return to Denver's Ball Arena for their final home game before the playoffs on Thursday, April 16.

The takeaway

Bednar's injury is a significant setback for the Avalanche as they prepare for the NHL playoffs, but the team's strong regular-season performance and depth of assistant coaches should allow them to weather his absence for the final two games.