Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar didn’t agree with the misconduct handed to Ross Colton in the 6-3 win over the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 7, 2023. Colorado's top line combined for five points and Miles Wood earned two in the Avalanche's 6-3 win over the New Jersey Devils Tuesday night. Mikko Rantanen opened up scoring for the Avs tying the game at one all when he tipped in a shot from Cale Makar on the power play at 15:50 of the first period. The second period was physical with several penalties called on both teams. Ross Colton initially got two minutes for boarding Luke Hughes, but received an additional five and game misconduct for a cross-check to Timo Meier. Minutes before the incident, Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton received two minutes for roughing after hitting Wood into the boards. "I saw it very similar to the Wood hit. The guy's trying to wheel the net, we're cutting him off, there's going to be contact," head coach Jared Bednar said after the game. "The difference was Hughes — last second — he tries to turn out of it without the puck, so it didn't look good. He gave him two — I'll live with the call." What Bednar didn't agree with was what was called after that contact, which he said he didn't even see until after he watched the replay. "Meier turns back to go at Colton and he's coming at him with his stick high — you got to defend yourself and your stick's going to go up unless you want to take one in the teeth," Bednar said. "It's what he does — it's a reaction play to me. I didn't think that deserved a five." Colton scored the Avs' second goal of the game two and a half minutes into the second period before getting ejected. Meier tied the game 2-2 with a goal seconds into the Colton penalties, and Wood put the Avalanche up 3-2 with a shorthanded goal less than a minute later. Wood said it was just another game and was glad the team got the win. He became the fan favorite as Ball Arena erupted when he was involved in any play. But it was also against his former team [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/featured/miles-wood-ready-to-face-off-against-former-team], so the intensity was certain to be elevated. "That chapter's closed in my life. I had a great seven years there in New Jersey but it's time to move on, focus on this team, this group, just trying to win," the 28-year-old forward said. Hamilton tied it back up with less than five minutes left in the second period. Ryan Johansen's game winner was his fifth and first full-strength of the season at 7:37 into the third. MacKinnon and Rantanen solidified the win with the last two goals. The Avalanche play the Seattle Kraken on Thursday — who lost in a shootout to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday — to try and extend the home win streak to five this season.
