Adrian Dater
Hello from the Pepsi Center, where the Avalanche hope to break their one-game losing streak tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks.
So, about that Nikita Zadorov benching in the third period of the game the other night:
I asked Jared Bednar about it a few minutes ago, and the answer was a bit out of the ordinary. Zadorov either did or said something he didn’t like between periods of that game, or just prior to the second-period intermission, because Bednar said the benching had nothing to do with his play in that game.
“I didn’t mind the way he played in Chicago and also that game against Carolina,” Bednar said. “I made a coach’s decision not to play him in the third.”
What happened? Well, we might never find out exactly. I did see a tape of Big Z on the bench right after he got back to it, with a little more than a minute left in the second period. He had just had a scuffle with Nino Niederreiter, is sitting on the bench and he is kind of turned, saying something to Bednar. It didn’t look like a big blowup or anything, but they did speak.
Here is a screenshot of Big Z on that bench. That hand you see belongs to Bednar:
I asked Zadorov today about the situation, and he said it’s “all good” again. He will be in the lineup tonight.
Bednar said he did talk with Zadorov this morning about things. So, I guess, it’s “move on” from this thing. But you have to wonder if this might not have done some damage between Big Z and coaching/management. I would say all will be forgotten quickly, especially if he plays well. But, obviously, this is something that could have become a much bigger deal, especially in a bigger media market lol.
UPDATE:
More Avs notes: Good news on Cale Makar. He skated in the pumpkin non-contact jersey this morning, but he was handling pucks, shooting pucks and, after the skate was over, he took some contact. If he responds well overnight, there is a chance he could play Monday in Vegas. Otherwise, it seems assured he’d be ready for the first game back from the Christmas break, Dec. 27 against Minnesota.
Philipp Grubauer starts in net tonight. Andre Burkakovsky will be back on a line with Nazem Kadri and Joonas Donskoi.