A frightening puck to the face sent Jared Bednar to the hospital
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Jonathan Ouimet
Apr 12, 2026 (2:51)
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Photo credit: Screenshot
Jared Bednar and the Colorado Avalanche got a better first sign than fans feared, but the hospital update still left a real scare hanging over the night.
That is the main takeaway here.
Here is the latest update after Bednar took a puck directly to the head.
Bednar was reported awake and alert after taking a puck to the cheek, which is the part everyone wanted to hear first.
It was a Keegan Kolesar dump-in that was deflected by Jack Drury’s stick, sending the puck directly into Bednar’s right cheek with about 16 minutes left in the 3rd period.
Even so, the next step told you this was not something the team could brush aside.
He was being taken to a local hospital for a CT scan and further evaluation.
That instantly changed the mood around the whole scene.
A coach leaving with a towel on his face is bad enough. Hearing “hospital” right after makes it hit even harder.
For Avalanche fans, that is where the relief and worry meet.
Awake and alert is encouraging, but nobody hears “CT scan” and pretends it is nothing.
It also explains why the organization moved quickly behind the scenes.
Assistant coach Nolan Pratt took over the postgame media duties while Bednar was being checked further.
The CT scan update is what matters most now
That is what makes this more than just a scary visual from the bench.
Once a scan is involved, the focus shifts away from the game and straight to making sure everything is clear.
And honestly, that is exactly how it should be.
A puck to the face can bring a lot more than a cut, especially when the contact looks hard right away.
Bednar is such a steady presence behind the bench that his sudden exit felt jarring on its own.
The hospital update only amplified that feeling.
The good news is still real.
He was conscious, responsive, and talking, which gave the first wave of calm after the initial shock.
But there is still no reason to get ahead of the process.
The scan was the smart move, and now the Avalanche will wait on the full evaluation before saying more.
That leaves fans in a familiar sports limbo.
You are grateful the first word was positive, but you still want the final word from doctors before you exhale.
For now, that is the story.
Jared Bednar avoided the darkest early fear, but Colorado's night still ended with its head coach heading to the hospital for answers.
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