Avs' Bednar slams officiating in loss to Isles: 'Goalie interference is a joke'

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar was irate with the ruling on the New York Islanders' first goal in Thursday's 6-3 loss.

A chaotic scramble in front of Colorado's net led to New York striking first. The Avalanche challenged for goalie interference, but the call stood. Here's a look at the play:

MACLEAN'S FIRST OF THE SEASON MAKES IT 1-0. #LGI | @FORD pic.twitter.com/t90uLFp4yu

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) December 5, 2025

"Goalie interference is a joke. If that's not goalie interference, I don't know what is," Bednar said postgame, according to The Denver Post's Corey Masisak. "You can't just shove the goalie's pads out of the way and create a loose puck."

However, the NHL stated that video review supported the referees' decision, concluding that incidental contact with Colorado goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood occurred as New York players made a play on a loose puck and didn't constitute goaltender interference.

The Islanders built a 4-0 lead before the Avalanche trimmed the deficit to 5-3, but New York added an empty-netter to seal the win.

The result marked just the second regulation loss of the season for the Avalanche, who sit atop the NHL's standings with a 19-2-6 record.

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