Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar was really upset after star player Nathan MacKinnon was kicked out of the game on Tuesday night while playing against the Edmonton Oilers.
This tricky decision changed how the game was going. Edmonton came back from behind to win a close game 4-3 at home.
The excitement started during the crazy last minute of the second period. MacKinnon made a strong move towards the goal and crashed into Oilers goalie Connor Ingram.
Ingram stayed on the ice, looking hurt. He was taken out of the game and put into the league’s concussion safety program right away.
Tristan Jarry then had to jump in as the backup goalie. He saved 12 out of 13 shots, keeping the strong Colorado offense from scoring.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said the fast crash was unintentional. But he made it clear to reporters that goalies need protection in this sport.
Bednar, however, saw things quite differently from his spot on the bench. He pointed the finger at Edmonton player Darnell Nurse for causing the crash.
Bednar Stands Up for His Star
“I looked at the replay first; he’s going to follow where his toes are pointing,” Bednar passionately argued after the game. He stated that MacKinnon was clearly trying to aim for the area close to the goal.
According to the annoyed Colorado coach, Nurse shoved his star player right into the goalie, putting him at risk. He felt that the major penalty was completely unfair.
“I don’t care if he’s hurt or not,” Bednar said plainly about Ingram. “If you push guys into your own goalie, that shouldn’t count as a penalty. ”
Even though they were missing their best offensive player, Colorado managed to tie the game in the third period. However, Connor McDavid eventually scored the winning goal during a power play.
Even though they lost a tough game away from home, the Avalanche are still doing great and are in first place in the NHL with a record of 43 wins, 11 losses, and 9 overtime losses. With 95 points, they have a nice lead for the Presidents’ Trophy.
Edmonton celebrated a big win that brought their season record to 32 wins, 25 losses, and 8 overtime losses. They have 72 points and are just three points behind the Anaheim Ducks for the top spot in the Pacific Division.
At the same time, fans in Canada are really curious about how the Montreal Canadiens are doing in the Eastern Conference. Right now, the Habs are holding a strong fourth place in the East.
Montreal has a solid record of 35 wins, 18 losses, and 10 overtime losses, earning them 80 points. They are only behind Carolina, Buffalo, and Tampa Bay in the playoff lineup.
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