It's a Numbers Game as Avs Take Down Caps

A night of milestone figures ends with Colorado picking up two points on home ice.

Game 46
Avalanche 3, Capitals 2
Ball Arena | January 24, 2023

Tuesday night’s 3-2 win over the visiting Washington Capitals was a numbers game for the Colorado Avalanche.

500. 700. 700 (again). 0. 811. 266. 6. 3.

There’s a lot there. Let’s unpack some of those.

Tonight marked the 500th game behind the bench for Jared Bednar. A guy who survived a 48-point campaign in his first season with the team is now hitting milestones. Let’s skip to another one of those figures: 266.

Bednar is now the franchise’s all-time leader in coaching wins. This after starting with just 22 victories in that dreadful 2016-17 season. This after having several other wins denied by the shortened COVID season of 2019-20. This with a 56-game slate the following year. He’s amassed all these games and all these wins in a stretch that has all but held him back from racking up even greater numbers. 

There is little doubt in the collective minds of Avalanche fans who the best coach in franchise history is. That debate is over. It’s settled. There’s no more serious discussion. Jared Bednar is the best to do it for either the Quebec Nordiques or the Avalanche.