DENVER — The frustration of Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar reached new heights following Thursday night’s game, to the extent that even a thrilling overtime victory couldn’t quell his anger.

Bednar was particularly incensed about a pivotal moment in the third period when goaltender Scott Wedgewood was injured after a Buffalo player collided with him. Despite Wedgewood being down and unable to get back up, the officials did not blow the whistle, allowing the Sabres to score, which Bednar believed was a major oversight regarding player safety. He expressed his discontent following the Avalanche’s impressive comeback from a three-goal deficit to secure a 6-5 win in overtime. “If he’s hurt and he’s not getting up, the whistle should go; it’s just that simple,” Bednar said.

He elaborated on the play in question, when Sabres forward Zach Benson fell into Wedgewood’s right leg after being bumped by Parker Kelly. Although Benson regained control of the puck and scored while Wedgewood remained down, Bednar felt the play should have been stopped immediately. “I told the referee, ‘I don’t care. He’s hurt.’ They were standing right there looking at it,” he stated emphatically. Bednar further pointed out that such actions are routinely taken to ensure player safety, especially for regular players. “It’s a matter of safety; they need to follow the rules,” he asserted.

The coach did challenge the goal for goaltender interference, fully aware that the ruling would likely remain unchanged. However, he believed it was crucial to give the officials another opportunity to reconsider their decision. “I was mad, and so we just did it,” he commented regarding the challenge.

Wedgewood was attended to and subsequently replaced by Mackenzie Blackwood in goal. Bednar confirmed that Wedgewood would undergo further evaluations and noted that “he’s gonna miss some time.” The incident sparked motivation for the Avalanche, leading Jonathan Drouin to score a crucial goal late in regulation to level the score. Devon Toews clinched the victory just 48 seconds into overtime with a breakaway goal, further ignited by the team’s desire to support Wedgewood.

“That fired us up,” Toews declared. “We’re hoping for Wedgie’s quick recovery so we can move on.” Following the game, Bednar indicated his intention to reach out to the NHL regarding the officiating. “I have no doubt I’ll hear from the league after this press conference,” he remarked. “When the goalie’s hurt, you blow the whistle.”