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Avalanche HC Jared Bednar issues blunt message after 4-2 loss to Golden Knights
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- Avalanche HC Jared Bednar issues blunt message after 4-2 loss to Golden Knights
Avalanche HC Jared Bednar issues blunt message after 4-2 loss to Golden Knights appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Colorado Avalanche came into the Western Conference Finals as the favorites to get back to their first Stanley Cup Final since 2022, but now they are behind the 8-ball. The Avs put out one of their worst performances of the playoffs so far in a 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at home.
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After the game, which helped Vegas steal home-ice advantage in this series, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar didn't hold back his thoughts on how his team played in Game 1, via Avalanche beat writer Aarif Deen.
"You're gonna have to play a full 60, better than we did tonight," Bednar said. "Especially with the puck."
The Avs and the Knights started off quickly in Game 1, both having come off of long rest periods, but the scoreboard didn't show it. Standout opening periods from both Carter Hart and Scott Wedgewood led to a 0-0 tie at the first intermission, but it was Vegas that got going first in the second.
In an unlikely turn of events, Dylan Coughlan got the Knights on the board with his first playoff goal in the second period, and Pavel Dorofeyev added another on the power play just minutes later. The Knights extended their lead to 3-0 early in the third with a goal from Brett Howden , and even two late goals from Colorado weren't enough to close the gap all the way.
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The Avs played without star defenseman Cale Makar in this game, who is dealing with what appears to be both hip and shoulder injuries. He was officially held out due to what was called an upper-body injury and is day-to-day heading into Game 2 on Friday.
Despite the loss, Colorado will still be plenty confident heading into Game 2 and the rest of this series. Bednar's club won the Presidents' Trophy as the best team in hockey and raced through the first two rounds of the playoffs with an 8-1 record. However, they know that they will have to come out with their best in Game 2 to prevent the Knights from taking a commanding lead in the series.
Related: What Golden Knights did to steal Game 1 vs. Avalanche, per Carter Hart
Related: Nathan MacKinnon did not hold back on Avalanche after Game 1 loss
