Bold statement: An Avalanche victory almost didn’t happen without its backbone, as a scare at Ball Arena tested depth and depth’s resolve in real time. And this is the part most people miss—the team’s resilience wasn’t just about scoring, but about weathering a sudden goaltending setback and finishing strong.
Adversity has followed the Avalanche this season, yet it has never toppled the NHL’s top team. In the latest setback, Colorado’s starting goalie for much of the year, Scott Wedgewood, left the ice with 7:32 remaining in the second period of a 1-1 game. The team later announced it was an upper-body injury.
“Weaker moments tended to tighten up his back a bit. We decided to pull him for safety,” head coach Jared Bednar explained. “Nothing too serious at this point.” Mackenzie Blackwood stepped in and steadied the ship, needing only a handful of saves to preserve the lead.
Colorado used a strong middle frame to spark a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at Ball Arena, scoring twice before intermission and adding another in the third. Nathan MacKinnon logged two goals, Brock Nelson added a marker, and Gabe Landeskog contributed two primary assists. Blackwood stopped 10 of 11 shots in relief to secure the win, while Wedgewood had made 10 saves on 11 shots before exiting.
Vancouver opened the scoring early, with Linus Karlsson beating Wedgewood on the backhand at 2:55 after a setup from Arshdeep Bains. Colorado misfired through portions of the first period, and Wedgewood’s saves kept the game from tipping further in Vancouver’s favor. Brent Burns’ late pinching attempt failed, and Canucks forward Kiefer Sherwood was stopped on a breakaway by a glove save.
The final minutes of the first period swung in Colorado’s direction, and with 37 seconds remaining, MacKinnon buried a rebound off a Sam Malinski shot to tie it at 1-1.
Just 1:24 after Wedgewood’s departure, Nelson found the back of the net from a pass by Landeskog. Nelson, Colorado’s No. 2 centerman, now has 12 points in his last 10 games. MacKinnon sealed the victory later in the period with a late goal on a pass from Landeskog, his league-leading 22nd of the season, from the slot.
Landeskog’s influence extended beyond the scoresheet, as he contributed a point per game in his last 10 games, with four goals and six assists, and he’s posted six points across the previous two outings.
“Honestly, it felt like only a matter of time,” Landeskog said. “That’s how I felt, and I’m sure Brock felt the same way.”
Positive takeaway: Wedgewood held the fort
Colorado hasn’t trailed by multiple goals in a long while, and Vancouver’s hypothetical two-goal lead wouldn’t have been catastrophic given how the Avalanche controlled the game after the early stretch. Still, Wedgewood’s performance kept the margin manageable and prevented a slide from spiraling.
The team’s sloppy opening minutes—marked by several giveaways—threatened to open a larger gap, but Wedgewood’s steadiness and Vancouver’s missed opportunities limited the damage. Outside Karlsson’s goal, Colorado’s crease remained secure for the remainder of the game.
Negative note: Uncertainty around Wedgewood’s status
Losing Wedgewood would be a meaningful blow, especially with a dense upcoming schedule. Fortunately, the injury doesn’t appear to be severe.
Colorado’s road trip continues on Thursday, followed by a back-to-back over the weekend. The club will need both goaltenders to stay fresh without overtaxing either one.
Bednar confirmed Wedgewood will travel with the team to Philadelphia on Wednesday. A decision on whether a third goalie is needed has not yet been made.
Beyond the immediate impact, a prolonged absence could complicate Bednar’s rotation plans and even influence national-team considerations for Canada, potentially affecting the team’s extraordinary season to date.
