The Devils can’t solve the Avalanche and fall 0-4

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Scott Wedgewood stopped 25 shots for his seventh career shutout and led the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night.

Ross Colton, Logan O’Connor, Artturi Lehkonen And Parker Kelly scored a goal for the Avalanche (16-13-0). Casey Mittelstadt And Calvin de Haan recorded two assists each.

Jake Allen had 19 saves for the Devils (18-10-2).

Wedgewood was acquired from the Nashville Predators on November 29 in exchange for Justus Annunen and a sixth-round draft choice. Wedgewood appeared in 23 games for the Devils over three seasons (2015-16, 2020-21 and 2021-22).

Colton, who scored a goal in the first period, was playing in his second game since suffering a lower-body injury against Chicago on Oct. 28. He had gotten off to a good start for Colorado, scoring eight goals in the first ten games of the season before the injury.

Lehkonen scored for the third time in Colorado’s last four games.

Colorado earned its fourth shutout of the season. The Devils were blanked for the fifth time this season.

Takeaways

Avalanche: Colorado’s two leading scorers, Nathan Mackinnon And Cale Makarstayed off the scorers list despite having five shots on goal each. The slack was taken up by the Avalanche’s second and third lines.

Devils: New Jersey has a record of 9-7-1 when allowing the first goal of the game. They have conceded the first goal in 9 of their last 10 games.

Key moment

The Devils went without a shot on goal in the final 14 minutes of the second period. During this time, Colorado extended its lead to 3-0 with a goal from Lehkonen.

Key statistics

Wedgewood now has a career save percentage of .965 against the Devils.

Next

The Avalanche finish their four-game road trip on Tuesday in Pittsburgh, while the Devils host Toronto on Tuesday in the third game of a five-game homestand.