10 Takeaways: Bednar Has a Goaltending Decision To Make For Game 4

10 Takeaways

**1.** As you’d expect, Bednar was asked about goaltending quite a bit after the game. He first assessed Wedgewood’s play. “Wedgie was playing hard. Maybe he looked a little too aggressive on a couple of those,” Bednar said, before breaking down some of the goals he surrendered. “The penalty kill, ends up without a stick, getting aggressive, coming across. Then they find the back of the net. The next one, gets a piece of [Devon Toews], I think it’s a pass, and it ends up in the empty net. He’s out too far.” **2.** Why the goalie change? “From what I’ve seen out of Blackwood here recently, a rested guy and a guy that we trust, I felt like it was a good opportunity for us to get him in and see if it sparked our group and if he could maybe close our door the rest of the way,” Bednar said. “That’s why I did it. Just felt like they had all the momentum and all the speed early in that game, and we needed to do something. We needed to do something to get our guys fired up and going. I was hoping that would be part of it.” **3.** It didn’t work as Bednar had hoped and intended. The Avalanche have been the better team at 5-on-5 nearly every night since October. But not on this one. They were outchanced 19-13, of which it was a 6-5 advantage in high-danger opportunities. They couldn’t muster any goals at 5-on-5. **4.** Surprisingly, the Avs didn’t give up any goals at 5-on-5 either. The Wild’s goals were scored at 4-on-4, 4-on-3, 5-on-4, 6-on-5, and 5-on-6. **5.** How quickly fortunes could change. The best scoring change in the first part of the opening period belonged to Parker Kelly. He’s the only skater without a point in this series and still got compliments from Bednar at morning skate for playing his role. Jesper Wallstedt robbed Kelly. Shortly after that, Kelly was in the box along with Ryan Hartman and Minnesota scored twice, both while playing 4-on-4 and on a 4-on-3 power play. In the second period, the Wild made it 3-0 with, you guessed it, Kelly in the box for holding. And when the Wild scored their fourth goal shortly after the Avs’ first, Kelly and the fourth line were on the ice. **6.** This loss should be a wake-up call to Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin. They’re logging heavy defensive minutes as a duo, but their offense has to get going. Each has one goal through seven postseason games, and they were both scored on an empty net to close out a game. **7.** Nelson was asked about this after the game. **8.** “We have to find ways to be more possessive with the puck, sustain a little bit more in the O-zone, and generate a few more chances,” Nelson said. “I feel like we’re confident in the ability that we have. Some nights might be a little bit different depending on the matchup or how the games running with special teams. So defensively, yeah, I think we’ve been pretty solid, but offensively, there’s more.” I wondered if or when Bednar would try to change things up in the middle six. He had already switched up the top line by elevating Gabe Landeskog in place of Artturi Lehkonen. But at one point in the third period he tested out a line of Nazem Kadri, Nic Roy, and Nelson. It was… Not great. The trio got pinned in their own zone for more than two minutes. Minnesota made a couple of changes while cycling the puck. They didn’t score — nobody did in the third period. But that shift was this game in a nutshell. Colorado was a step slower and a step behind. **9.** I’d be curious to see how Bednar balances the shutdown abilities of that pairing with their lack of offense. This is a head coach who has never shied away from an opportunity to shake up lines when needed. Will he look at making a change? I’m going to ask him about this the next chance I get. **10.** Bednar openly admitted the Wild had more compete. This is not something he often does. Blackwood had the quote of the night about that same discussion. “They know what they have to do. I’ve got the most confidence that they’re going to come out hard and play the right way.” The post 10 Takeaways: Bednar Has a Goaltending Decision To Make For Game 4 appeared first on Colorado Hockey Now.