Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said his team remains mentally resilient heading into a must-win Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The game represents the final opportunity for Colorado to stave off elimination in the Western Conference Final. A loss would end the team's season, as they currently trail 0-3 [1] in the series.
Bednar addressed the pressure of the situation during an interview with 9 News Australia. He said the team is approaching the contest with a liberated mindset given their precarious position in the series.
"I think that our guys’ heads are in the right spot, and we’ve kind of got nothing to lose now…" Bednar said.
The contest took place Tuesday [3] at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. To combat the series deficit, the Avalanche turned to goalie Mackenzie Blackwood for the pivotal Game 4 [2].
Reports on the availability of star player Nathan MacKinnon remained conflicted leading up to the game. While some reports indicated MacKinnon would play, others suggested his participation was uncertain due to a concerning injury.
Bednar's focus remained on the collective mental state of the roster. He said that the lack of remaining options allows the team to play with more freedom as they attempt to avoid a sweep.
“"I think that our guys’ heads are in the right spot, and we’ve kind of got nothing to lose now…"”
A 0-3 deficit in a best-of-seven series is historically difficult to overcome in professional hockey. By pivoting to goalie Mackenzie Blackwood and emphasizing a 'nothing to lose' mentality, Bednar is attempting to disrupt the Golden Knights' momentum and alleviate the psychological burden on his players before the series concludes.
