Let’s discuss the concept of “scheduled losses.” For the Colorado Avalanche, tonight’s matchup against the New Jersey Devils was a classic example. Why? Because the Avs had just traveled from Detroit after a victory over the Red Wings the night before, while the Devils were resting comfortably at home.
Additionally, this was the second game of New Jersey’s current homestand, which meant they weren’t dealing with the fatigue of a long road trip (a tricky situation, as we’ll see next week).
Teams in such scenarios typically have much lower winning percentages, and that’s before considering the strength of their opponent. Entering tonight’s game, the Devils were just two points behind Washington for the Eastern Conference lead, and they’ve been performing at an elite level according to advanced statistics.
This Devils team is no illusion, so I anticipated a tough matchup tonight. When the Avalanche blanked the Devils 4-0, it turned their current five-game road trip into an immediate success, bringing their record to 3-1 and potentially providing a pivotal moment for the rest of the season.
Now, let’s dive into how it unfolded.
Colorado’s stars stepped up for the Avalanche. The only point credited to the team tonight came from Mikko Rantanen, who assisted on Parker Kelly’s empty-net goal that sealed the 4-0 win.
That’s all there is to it.
However, this game highlighted the leadership of the Avs’ top players, even though none of them scored.
Nathan MacKinnon’s line, featuring Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen, secured a breakaway goal from Lehkonen, which resulted from a line change and a nice play by Casey Mittelstadt.
Where this trio excelled was in territorial control.
During 13:51 of 5v5 play, they dominated with shot attempts (20-3), shots on goal (8-0), scoring chances (7-1), and high-danger chances (1-0).
In a head-to-head matchup, MacKinnon faced off against Jack Hughes, and the Avs outshot them 8-3. Against Nico Hischier, the shots on goal concluded at an astonishing 1-0 in favor of the Avs.
When matched up against Hughes and Hischier in 5v5 situations, MacKinnon contributed to the team allowing only three scoring chances throughout the entire game. It was a display of complete dominance.
As the game progressed and fatigue set in due to it being the second match of a back-to-back (referred to as a “SEGABABA”), Colorado’s top line stepped up to prevent any comeback attempts from the Devils.
Cale Makar faced a few more shot attempts against Jack Hughes but was similarly strong against Nico Hischier. The 5v5 tally against these players was 8-2 in favor of the Avs, demonstrating their defensive effectiveness. Like the previous night, Makar and Devon Toews were exceptionally dominant during their 13:36 of 5v5 play together.
Casey Mittelstadt also made an impact for the Avs. He broke his nine-game pointless streak last night with a secondary assist and was much more involved tonight, recording two assists. Both were registered during 5v5 play, making it clear that he deserves recognition for shaking off his earlier slump.
His instant chemistry with Ross Colton is promising, especially with Jonathan Drouin likely to return eventually (although I’m cautious about being too optimistic this season). It’s also beneficial that Val Nichushkin has elevated his offensive play and is contributing significantly.
While the statistics for their line may not look impressive tonight, the Avs scored two goals from Mittelstadt’s passing: one from a cycle play with his linemates and another when he set up Lehkonen for a breakaway goal.
We anticipated that the Avs might need to play a gritty, opportunistic style of hockey to secure the two points tonight.
That’s exactly what unfolded, and Mittelstadt’s emergence as a key player is a development the Avs really need. Last night, Mittelstadt’s line excelled in their game against the Red Wings, while tonight it was MacKinnon’s turn to take charge. This is how scoring depth should function.
Scott Wedgewood shines against the Devils Wedgewood was drafted, developed, and eventually traded by the Devils, and it seems he hasn’t forgotten, as the “curse of the ex-player” was very much in effect tonight.
Wedgewood was both outstanding and a bit fortunate. Two goals from the Devils were called back in the first period—one due to a blown whistle and the other for a high stick infraction.
Although he had an easy second period, with the Avs limiting the Devils to just two shots on goal (and none in the last 14 minutes), Wedgewood was sharp when the Devils managed to generate some chances in the third period.
This performance continues a trend for him; since leaving the Devils organization, he has accrued a 3-0 record in five appearances, boasting a .958 save percentage and one shutout. Following tonight’s game, those stats improve to 4-0 with two shutouts and a .970 save percentage.
So, if the Avs end up facing the Devils in the Stanley Cup Final, Wedgewood has a claim to Game 1.
The Avs needed a trip like this.
If Colorado can manage to win in Pittsburgh and finish the road trip with a 4-1 record, it could serve as a launching pad for the rest of their season—assuming they can avoid further injuries and continue to improve their goaltending.
As we’ve noted many times, the Avs have looked like a solid but not exceptional team while dealing with injuries, and they could start racking up wins if they receive even just decent goaltending.
Scott Wedgewood and Alexandar Georgiev conceded only one goal over the two games during this weekend’s back-to-back, leading to victories in both. While it’s unlikely that this level of performance will be sustainable (after all, no team completely shuts out their opponents—just look at Winnipeg, haha), this could provide the momentum the team needs to move forward.
Throughout the first four games of this road trip, nearly every player on the roster has contributed meaningfully. Ivan Ivan and Sam Malinski have shown promise, and Ross Colton has made a significant impact as a winger this season.
The superstars are still performing at a high level, even though MacKinnon’s scoring has dipped notably in recent weeks. The team has solid foundational pieces that could make them a formidable threat.
Although they are not a flawless squad yet, their ability to display resilience and secure a win in a difficult situation against a strong opponent offers a reason for optimism.
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