Bednar said that Zadorov practiced on Saturday afternoon with the team after leaving in the second period of Game 3 on Wednesday, and the only players that didn't skate were Matt Calvert, Joonas Donskoi, Philipp Grubauer and Erik Johnson.
Calvert has not played in any of the three contests in the series, while Donskoi was a game-time decision on Wednesday but ultimately missed his second playoff outing of 2020. Grubauer and Johnson both got hurt in Game 1.
For Zadorov, his injury didn't look good initially as he left the ice. He returned to the bench for the third period, but he didn't play and instead provided encouragement and helped his teammates where he could--the same thing Johnson did in Game 1.
"He kept the energy up on the bench and the juice and kept our guys in it, gave good advice, talking on the bench, which our team needs," Bednar said of Zadorov after Wednesday's contest. "He made a huge impact."
Colorado won 6-4 in a wild Game 3 to get back into the series, but the team will need to put in another strong effort without those key cogs in its lineup again on Sunday to even the best-of-seven set.
It's nothing new for the Avs. Twice during the regular season they went through long stretches with several players out with injuries and still managed to finish third in the league and two points out of first place in the Western Conference.
"We know we're a good enough team to win," said forward Nathan MacKinnon. "We were hurt all season. We don't want to be hurt, but we have no choice but to put our best foot forward and go out there and battle. Hopefully those guys can get healthy so we can win this series and in later rounds. We got to get through this round. Down 2-1, it's a huge one tomorrow and we're going out there looking to tie it up."
Entering the lineup in the past two outings has been defenseman Kevin Connauton (Game 2 and 3) and forward Logan O'Connor (Game 3). While Connauton and O'Connor both didn't see a lot of action with the Avalanche during the regular season, they and the team's other reserve players in Edmonton have the trust of Bednar.
"The guys that we brought in, the extra guys at the start, were brought in for a reason," said the Avs head coach. "The biggest one, first and foremost, is that we feel that they have the ability to come in and help us win hockey games."
For O'Connor--who played in 16 contests with the Avalanche during the regular season--he played 7:44, registered four hits and was trusted to kill penalties in his first career Stanley Cup Playoff game.
"Unfortunately injuries are part of the playoffs, but it gives guys like me an opportunity to jump in there," said O'Connor, who grew up three hours south of Edmonton in Calgary. "I just wanted to set myself up with the best chance of success, fitness-wise off the ice. I knew there would be an opportunity at some point that might come along. It was pretty cool to get out there for my first playoff game."
O'Connor is anticipated to skate in NHL postseason game No. 2 on Sunday with Calvert and Donskoi both expected to be out once again. The Avalanche's lineup likely won't be known until closer to game time, though Pavel Francouz will make his third straight start in net for the team.
