Why Jared Bednar isn’t ready to give up

EDMONTON, ALBERTA – Jared Bednar knows the odds are hugely against him and his team now. Even with the services of a healthy No. 1 goalie, a top veteran defenseman and a great utility forwards, the odds would still be hugely against him and his Colorado Avalanche in these Western Conference semifinals with Dallas.

Bednar, of course, would never come right out and say “It’s over, we’re not even going to show up, see you next year.” But Bednar is not a BSer. The inflection of his tone was such on Tuesday that I knew he believed what he was saying. I think, having covered him all of the Titanic 2016-17, 48-point season, I know the difference in what he says about his team publicly and what he really believes about it privately.

And so, he and the Avs get one more crack at it Wednesday night to try and keep this series still a series. Otherwise, a 3-0 hole is….well, not impossible, but pretty damn close. Bednar, a man of faith, still has some when it comes to the 2019-20 Colorado Avalanche too.

“I still believe in this team,” Bednar said. “I believe in our guys and I believe we’re going to get the job done. The biggest thing going into this thing is mindset and mentality and belief that we can pull this out..if we believe in that and don’t get discouraged, there’s a chance.”

A win Wednesday night in Game 3, and there is still a true chance. A loss, and it’s a Jim Carrey, “Dumb and Dumber” kind of “still a chance.”