Avalanche coach Bednar hospitalized after puck hit in game

The incident occurred with about 17 minutes left in the third period, according to an official source. Bednar was hit in the right cheek, the Denver Post reported. He was helped to the locker room and then taken to a hospital, where he was to undergo a CT scan and further examination, an official said. According to the Denver Post, the puck flew into Colorado's bench after Vegas forward Keegan Kolesar's dump-in attempt was deflected by Colorado's Jack Drury. Colorado Avalanche assistant coach Nolan Pratt said it was scary when pucks fly into the bench, noting it happens all the time. Brendan McNicholas, a Colorado Avalanche press officer, stated Bednar was fully conscious and going to the hospital for a CT scan and further examination. The exact medical diagnosis and severity of Jared Bednar's injury from the puck hit have not been confirmed, and it is unknown whether he will miss any upcoming games or be ready for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Vegas Golden Knights won the game 3-2. This loss came amid other injury concerns for the Avalanche, as forward Gabriel Landeskog missed the game against the Minnesota Wild due to a lower-body injury, multiple reports indicate. Landeskog's injury status is week-to-week with an unclear timeline, according to multiple reports. According to Sportbladet, Gabriel Landeskog described suffering a lower-body injury from a slap shot hitting him in the groin at 150 km/h. According to Sportbladet, Gabriel Landeskog described needing a quick operation to fix some things, after which he was ready to go again. Landeskog returned to play and scored a goal in Colorado's 3-2 overtime win against the Washington Capitals, multiple reports indicate. The specific details and recovery timeline for Gabriel Landeskog's groin injury and operation remain unclear, and how long he will be out with his week-to-week lower-body injury is not yet known.

Despite these setbacks, Colorado Avalanche leads the Central Division by seven points over the Dallas Stars and nine points over the Minnesota Wild, multiple reports indicate. Colorado Avalanche has secured the Presidents' Trophy and first place in the Western Conference, the Denver Post reported. This strong performance positions the team favorably for the playoffs, though the health of key figures like Bednar and Landeskog could impact their postseason prospects. The Avalanche's depth and resilience will be tested as they navigate these injuries while maintaining their competitive edge in the league.