Gabe Landeskog has said this Colorado Avalanche team isn’t at its best yet despite the hot start, but the expectations he’s setting might be a bit harsh.
Scott Wedgewood stopped 13 of 14 shots as the Avs completely dismantled the Boston Bruins on Saturday night at Ball Arena to move to 5-0-1. Wedgewood, getting a chance to play regularly that he has so often craved, has allowed one goal in five of those six games.
He has two more wins than any other goalie, and the only starter off to a hotter start this season is Igor Shesterkin, a Vezina Trophy winner.
Your assessment, captain?
“I think he’s been average,” Landeskog said, trying to keep a straight face.
“No, he’s been really good, no doubt. He deserves all the credit he’s getting, because he’s huge for us and kept us in a lot of these games.”
This is the best stretch of consistent hockey in Wedgewood’s NHL career. Mackenzie Blackwood’s offseason injury opened the door for Wedgewood, and he’s 5-0-1 with a .938 save percentage.
For the second game in a row, Wedgewood gave up the first goal of the game. And just like in Columbus, the Avalanche responded with a suffocating, dominating performance after that. The Avs outshot the Bruins 38-14, and it was 31-7 over the final 40 minutes.
“Did what I had to do in a few opportunities they had, but for the most part I was one of you guys watching that one,” Wedgewood said.
Wedgewood is 33 years old and Saturday night was his 160th NHL game. He believes that number is too low. His career path, which has included nearly a full season in the ECHL and changing teams seven times, earns him the label of journeyman.
He doesn’t see himself as one. That confidence has not been shaken throughout all of the twists and turns and here he is, rolling along for one of the best teams in the NHL.
“He’s been fantastic. He’s played great hockey,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “His worst game was probably the Dallas game … In all the other games, I feel like he’s been outstanding.”
Wedgewood’s career-best streak of consecutive games played is 11, with Dallas in 2023-24 when Jake Oettinger was injured. He also got eight games in a row with the Arizona Coyotes back in 2017.
He’s also gone 5-0-1 during a personal run before, as part of an 8-0-2 stretch with the Stars. But this is the best he’s played in the NHL.
Dating back to how he finished last season, Wedgewood is 13-0-2 in his last 15 games. He’s allowed two or fewer goals in 13 of 15 games.
“Yeah, it’s cool,” Wedgwood said. “There was speculation about what was going to happen, how long (Blackwood) was going to be and what could I do?
“I’ve always viewed myself as a starter. Just have had a limited opportunity to do so. I’m chomping at the bit to keep playing and excited for him to come back.”
Bednar noted that this run reminds of him of when Wedgewood joined the Avalanche in a late November trade. He went 4-2 with a .935 save percentage in his first six games with Colorado, helping to establish a trust with his teammates and to stabilize what had been a rough start at the position for the club.
He’s done this before too. Wedgewood’s first four NHL games with the New Jersey Devils included a sparkling .957 save percentage. His first six games back during a second stint with Arizona? 3-2-1 with a .940 save percentage.
Blackwood just returned from a brief conditioning stint with the Colorado Eagles, but he wasn’t ready to dress Saturday night. The Avs have two more games before the first set of back-to-backs loom next weekend.
Soon, the franchise’s No. 1 goalie is going to be healthy and ready to play. But the other guy is trying to make it hard on his coach.
“Obviously, if he keeps playing like this he’s going to see more games.” Bednar said.
For now, Wedgewood is just trying to enjoy the ride. Even if his captain doesn’t seem that impressed.
“That’s fine. I’ll take average in a win,” Wedgewood said. “I’ll take that all day.”
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