DOVE VALLEY — Bring it on, Edmonton!

Jared Bednar expressed full confidence in his Colorado Avalanche group after Tuesday’s 3–2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Ball Arena. The Avs held an optional skate Thursday morning, with a full practice scheduled for Friday before they embark on a mini Tour de Canada — a back-to-back weekend set against the Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks. 

The Hockey News brought up Edmonton’s recent surge to the Stanley Cup–winning head coach. Over their last two games, the Oilers, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, have surrendered just nine total shots on goal in the third period. We asked Bednar how he plans to prepare his group for a team that has excelled at cutting off scoring chances.

His response was perfect. 

“I haven’t studied the Oilers yet; we’re still working through last night’s game,” Bednar said. “But we’ll look at what they’re doing structurally and then we’ll find the areas that we feel like we want to attack.  

“But ultimately, I still think it (comes down to us). You want shots on goal, you got to win races, you got to win battles, you got to be highly competitive, you got to have a sharp mentality.”

It's also worth noting that the Oilers goaltenders, led by Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, also allowed three goals on those nine shots, which speaks to where Edmonton has notoriously struggled over the last number of seasons. 

Battle On 

Bednar isn’t the type to throw literary haymakers, but there’s always just enough flare in his delivery to suggest a thin wisp of steam rising off every word. In this case, it was a message to the Edmonton Oilers themselves: bring it on. 

The Avalanche (8-1-5) sit atop the NHL with 21 points through 14 games, but perhaps the most arresting statistic is this: not once has an opponent outshot them. Colorado has already navigated a demanding early slate — Dallas, Utah twice, New Jersey twice, and a Tampa Bay team that arrived on Tuesday riding a five-game heater. 

The Avs are banking points because their offense is relentless, capable of erasing deficits and dictating pace against virtually anyone. That engine isn’t expected to stall against Edmonton. Bednar made it clear: Colorado intends to stick with what’s been working.  

“What we can do is (against Edmonton) is still create some good scoring chances. I have confidence in our team that we’ll be able to find enough offense to beat them. We’re just going to have to make sure we’re ready to check the big boys.” 

Players to Watch

Nathan MacKinnon continues to pace the Avalanche with 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists), while Martin Necas sits just a shade behind at 18 (9 goals, 9 assists). Cale Makar matches him at 18 points of his own, powered by 4 goals and 14 assists.

Victor Olofsson has found the scoresheet in both of his appearances for Colorado this season, delivering a hat trick in one game and two goals in the other. He enters the season with 5 goals and 7 assists, totaling 12 points.

For the Oilers, despite media murmurs suggesting Connor McDavid is underperforming, he still leads the team with 21 points, tallying 4 goals and 17 assists. Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have combined for 33 points, contributing 15 goals and 18 assists between them.

Next Game

The Avalanche square off against the Oilers on Saturday at Rogers Place. Prepare your coffee. Coverage begins at 8 p.m. local time. It's a late one, friends. 

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