Jared Bednar not traveling with Avs after facial fractures and a corneal abrasion

***This story has been updated below***

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar went through a scary situation against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night.

In the third period of a 2-2 game at Ball Arena a stray puck hit Bednar in the face.

He immediately was tended to by Colorado trainers and went down the tunnel.

Jared Bednar had to leave the game after taking a puck to the head 🫣 pic.twitter.com/nZFXofYAtM

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 12, 2026

After the game, the Avalanche provided an update with assistant coach Nolan Pratt taking questions from the media while Jared Bednar continued to receive medical attention.

“Took a puck to the right cheek. He’s fully alert, fully conscious. He is going to go to a local hospital to get a CT scan and just for further evaluation,” Avalanche vice president of media and player relations Brendan McNicholas said.

The Avs lost the game 3-2 in OT, but that was obviously secondary to the health of Bednar. Colorado is not practicing on Sunday and heading to Edmonton ahead of their next game on Monday with the Oilers. It’s not clear as of yet whether or not Bednar will make the trip with the team.

Hopefully, good news is coming on his status later in the day.

Regardless, the Avalanche have won the Central Division, earned the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed and the Presidents’ Trophy for the best record in the league.

And much like the players, fans will just hope that Jared Bednar is good to go for Round 1, Game 1 when the playoffs start next weekend.

(Update 10:30 a.m.) – 

Jared Bednar will not travel with the Avalanche to Edmonton and Calgary after he suffered facial fractures and a corneal abrasion. He does not need surgery right now and is expected to make a full recovery.

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar will not accompany the team on their upcoming two-game road trip due to facial fractures and a corneal abrasion. He will not require surgery at this time and is expected to make a full recovery.

Avalanche assistant coaches Nolan Pratt and… pic.twitter.com/6VupeAD82E

— P – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 12, 2026

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