DENVER — Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar sustained facial fractures and a corneal abrasion after being hit in the face by a puck during Saturday night's home game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Bednar will not accompany the Avalanche on their upcoming road trip to western Canada.

Bednar was standing behind the Colorado bench when a puck flew off the stick of Golden Knights defenseman Keegan Kolesar over the boards and struck him on his right cheek with 16:39 remaining in the third period. He bent over holding the side of his head and was helped to the locker room by a trainer.

A team spokesperson said Bednar was fully alert and conscious and went to a hospital for a CT scan and further evaluation. According to a team statement, Bednar is expected to make a full recovery without surgery.

Assistant coach Dave Hakstol took over Bednar's duties for the remainder of Saturday's game, which the Avalanche lost 3-2 in overtime. Hakstol and fellow assistant Nolan Pratt are expected to coach the team in the final two regular-season games at Edmonton and Calgary.

"It's certainly a little unnerving. It happens all the time, and unfortunate tonight, so it takes a little second to sort of recalibrate and then get back to it," Pratt said after the game.

The Avalanche have already clinched the NHL's top overall seed for the postseason with 115 points. The NHL playoffs begin next weekend.