Wedgewood Faces His Former Team as Devils Take on Avalanche
It’s going to be a night full of storylines in Denver as the New Jersey Devils meet the Colorado Avalanche once again — and this time, all eyes are on goaltender Scott Wedgewood , who’s set to start against his former team. It’s always fascinating when a player faces the club that helped launch his career, but for Wedgewood, this matchup carries an even deeper connection.
The 33-year-old goaltender, now with the Avalanche, was originally drafted by the Devils back in 2010 and began his NHL journey with them. Over the years, he’s worn several jerseys — from New Jersey to Arizona, then Dallas, and now Colorado — but his roots in the Devils’ system make tonight’s game more personal. Interestingly, this won’t be the first time he’s gone up against his old team. In fact, he’s faced the Devils four times before and has won every single one of those games, holding an impressive 4-0-0 record with a .965 save percentage. Clearly, he knows how to handle his former club.
Wedgewood’s NHL path has been quite a ride. Fans still remember that unusual trade moment in 2017 when he was moved mid-game from New Jersey to the Arizona Coyotes — literally walking across the hall from the Devils’ locker room to the Coyotes’ side at the Prudential Center. It’s one of those rare, almost cinematic stories in hockey that people still bring up years later.
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Tonight’s game also holds weight for both teams beyond the personal reunion. The Devils are riding high with an eight-game winning streak and will be looking to make it nine in a row as they open a four-game road trip. Their first meeting with Colorado just two days ago ended dramatically — a 4-3 overtime win for New Jersey, capped by Jack Hughes’ clutch second goal of the night. Hughes has been on fire lately, tallying eight goals in nine games, and earning recognition as the NHL’s Third Star of the Week.
On the other side, the Avalanche are in search of a rebound. Despite their solid start to the season, they’ve dropped four straight games in various forms — regulation, overtime, and shootout. Still, Colorado remains unbeaten in regulation on home ice, going 2-0-2 so far. And with Wedgewood guarding the net, they’ll be hoping his steady play against New Jersey continues.
It’s not just about streaks, though — both teams are dealing with lineup adjustments. The Devils will be without defenseman Brett Pesce , who was recently placed on injured reserve after blocking a shot in their previous game. But they’ll get a boost as goaltender Jacob Markstrom returns to action after recovering from injury, which should help balance the workload moving forward.
With all 32 NHL teams hitting the ice tonight for what’s being dubbed a “ Frozen Frenzy ,” this matchup between the league-leading Devils and a determined Avalanche squad is shaping up to be one of the most compelling games of the night. It’s more than just another regular-season contest — it’s a meeting filled with history, emotion, and plenty of momentum on the line.
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