Avs Coach Bednar Out with Facial Fractures Until Playoffs

The Colorado Avalanche enter the playoffs as the top overall seed, but they’ll close out the regular season without the man who got them there. Avs coach suffers facial fractures after taking a puck directly to the face during Saturday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Vegas, and Jared Bednar won’t travel with the team for their final two regular-season games. For bettors, the immediate question isn’t sympathy—it’s whether this changes anything on the board for Colorado’s remaining matchups and, more critically, their Stanley Cup futures price.

The Injury Details: What We Know

Bednar took a puck off the stick of Vegas defenseman Keegan Kolesar that sailed over the boards and connected with the coach’s right cheek with 16:39 remaining in the third period. The Avalanche confirmed Sunday that Bednar sustained facial fractures and a corneal abrasion. The good news: no surgery required, full recovery expected. The better news for Colorado’s postseason hopes: he should be back behind the bench when the playoffs open next weekend.

Assistant coaches Nolan Pratt and Dave Hakstol will split duties for road games at Edmonton and Calgary to close the regular season. With Colorado already locked into the top seed at 115 points, these games are essentially exhibition matchups from a standings perspective—though not necessarily from a betting one.

Market Impact: Does This Move the Needle?

Let’s be direct: Bednar’s absence for two meaningless regular-season games shouldn’t crater Colorado’s playoff outlook. The Avalanche have their seeding secured. They’re not playing for anything except staying healthy and maybe getting some bottom-six forwards extra reps.

That said, sharp bettors should monitor a few angles:

Regular-season games at Edmonton and Calgary: The Oilers and Flames are both fighting for positioning. Edmonton in particular will treat their matchup against a potentially resting Avalanche squad as a playoff tuneup. If books don’t adjust for Colorado’s likely reduced intensity and interim coaching, there could be value on the hosts.

Stanley Cup futures: Any movement here would be an overreaction. Bednar is expected back for Game 1. Unless that timeline changes, Colorado’s Cup price shouldn’t budge. If it does drift slightly due to casual bettors panicking, that’s a buying opportunity.

*Note: Lines for Colorado’s remaining regular-season games and playoff series will be posted closer to puck drop. Check bet105 for updated odds.*
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The Manson Situation Bears Watching

Buried in the Bednar news is a potentially more significant development: defenseman Josh Manson left Saturday’s game with an upper-body injury late in the second period. The Avalanche are being predictably vague—”being evaluated”—but Manson’s status for the playoffs is worth tracking.

Colorado’s blue line depth gets tested quickly if Manson misses extended time. He’s averaging over 19 minutes per game and plays a physical style that’s particularly valuable in playoff hockey. If Manson lands on the shelf, that’s when you might see meaningful movement on series prices.

Sharp Angle: Coaching Continuity Isn’t the Concern

Hakstol has head coaching experience (four seasons with Philadelphia, plus Seattle’s inaugural campaign). Pratt has been on Bednar’s staff for years. The Avalanche won’t suddenly forget their systems because the head coach is recovering from taking a Kolesar shot to the face.

The real edge here isn’t fading Colorado—it’s recognizing when the market overreacts to scary-sounding news. “Coach hospitalized with facial fractures” generates headlines. It doesn’t generate a coaching void for a team with a week until meaningful games begin.

If anything, this incident reinforces a broader point: the NHL playoff grind is attritional. The teams that survive aren’t necessarily the most talented on paper—they’re the ones who avoid the random catastrophes. Bednar caught a puck to the face and will be fine. Manson’s status is murkier. Colorado’s depth will be tested eventually. The question is when, and how badly.

What to Watch For

Bednar’s timeline: “Expected to return for playoffs” leaves some ambiguity. Any update suggesting he’ll miss Game 1 changes the calculus.
Manson’s status: Upper-body injuries range from “day-to-day” to “out indefinitely.” Clarity here matters more than Bednar’s situation.
Line movement on remaining games: If Edmonton or Calgary open as small favorites or pick’em prices against a resting Avalanche squad, that’s likely fair value. If Colorado is still favored at -140 or higher, the market hasn’t adjusted.

FAQ

Will Jared Bednar coach the Avalanche in the playoffs?

Yes, Bednar is expected to make a full recovery without surgery and return to coaching duties when the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin next weekend. He’s only missing the final two regular-season games at Edmonton and Calgary.

How did the Avalanche coach get injured?

During Colorado’s 3-2 overtime loss to Vegas on Saturday, a puck flew off the stick of Golden Knights defenseman Keegan Kolesar, sailed over the boards, and struck Bednar in the right cheek. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation and diagnosed with facial fractures and a corneal abrasion.

Does Bednar’s injury affect Colorado’s Stanley Cup odds?

It shouldn’t have any meaningful impact. The Avalanche already clinched the top overall seed with 115 points, and Bednar is expected back for the playoff opener. Any drift in Colorado’s futures price would represent an overreaction and potential buying opportunity for sharp bettors.