In Denver, Colorado, the head coach of the Avalanche, Jared Bednar, responded to recent criticism of defenseman Sam Girard on Wednesday night, defending his player’s performance amid social media backlash. Girard had committed a costly turnover on the blue line that allowed San Jose Sharks forward Filip Kurashev to score on a breakaway, but the Avalanche still won the game 4-2 at Ball Arena. Bednar emphasized that Girard’s overall play has been improving recently and dismissed the idea that he’s underperforming, attributing the mistake to a bad decision during a broken play. Despite Colorado initially building a 2-0 lead and outscoring San Jose decisively in the first two periods, they lost their advantage early in the third when Liljegren scored a slap shot, followed shortly by Girard’s turnover which drew the game even. Bednar continued to analyze Girard’s play, noting that quick shots taken by the Sharks and the subsequent mistakes led to the game being tied, and highlighted the risks involved in defending against fast-paced opponents. The team had planned to replace Girard with Ryan Lindgren, who was acquired from the New York Rangers last season, but Lindgren left for the Seattle Kraken in free agency, leading Colorado to add Brent Burns and extend contracts for other players. Girard, who was part of the high-profile trade involving Matt Duchesne back in 2017, has played 588 NHL games and is under contract until 2026-27, though his recent limited ice time raises questions about his future with the team.
Fan Take: This situation underscores how mental resilience and team support are crucial for players to stay confident during rough patches. For hockey fans, it’s a reminder that even the most talented athletes are vulnerable to mistakes, but their ability to bounce back often defines their careers and teams’ success.
