DENVER — Following a tightly contested game, Colorado managed to secure a 3-2 overtime victory over the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, yet Avalanche coach Jared Bednar’s review of the performance was far from complimentary.
“Unimpressive,” he stated succinctly, emphasizing his dissatisfaction with the lack of engagement from several players. Despite achieving their 14th comeback win with a decisive goal from Devon Toews just over four minutes into overtime, Bednar was clearly not content with the overall team effort.
“It felt like only half the team was actively participating,” Bednar remarked, noting that some athletes had to exert extraordinary efforts to keep the team competitive.
Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood was one of those key players, delivering a stellar performance with 27 saves, many of which halted dangerous breakaways from the Rangers.
“To allow only two goals despite facing around 12 high-quality scoring chances is truly remarkable,” Toews acknowledged, commending Blackwood’s effort in maintaining the team’s position in the game.
Bednar also heaped praise on Blackwood, calling him “the best player on the ice” for either team. Since joining the Avalanche in a trade deal with San Jose, Blackwood has shown consistency, compiling a record of 9-2-1 and keeping opponents to two goals or fewer in every game.
“Success fluctuates, and while things may not always go your way, it’s important to give your best effort every time,” Blackwood commented as he focused on maintaining the team’s chances of victory.
His exceptional play was crucial, as was the tenacity of Logan O’Connor, whose efforts in the overtime period helped deliver the puck to Nathan MacKinnon, setting up Toews for the winning shot past the Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin.
Bednar also praised the performance of the penalty-kill unit, especially as they successfully navigated Mikko Rantanen’s interference penalty early in overtime. “The players out there put in a significant effort,” he noted, referencing the determination exhibited by the team during the match.
However, he expressed concern over having to depend excessively on a core group of players, saying, “We’re relying too heavily on the same few guys to handle power plays, penalty kills, and even-strength situations because we had too many passengers tonight.”
When asked about his feelings regarding the game, Bednar offered a candid assessment. “Both annoyed and angry,” he admitted.
Reflecting on the prior day’s practice, he added, “It didn’t meet my expectations, and tonight’s performance from the team wasn’t up to par either.”