Colorado Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood has been very good this season.
On Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes at Ball Arena, he didn’t have his best stuff.
Wedgewood gave up four goals on only 11 shots, was pulled in the first period, and the Avalanche lost a potential Stanley Cup Final preview in frustrating fashion.
When Colorado head coach Jared Bednar took Wedgewood out, the Avs were down 4-1. A furious rally made it 4-4 and the game eventually went to overtime and a shootout, but Carolina prevailed 1-0 in that format. The Hurricanes earned the extra point while Colorado fell to 5-0-3 on the year.
The Avalanche still have 13 out of a possible 16 points and haven’t lost in regulation.
Winger Valeri Nichushkin was a huge part of the comeback, scoring two goals, including the one to things up 4-4 with fewer than six minutes to go in the third period. Martin Necas and Parker Kelly added the other Colorado tallies.
Seldom-used backup goaltender Trent Miner came in for Wedgewood and was great. He made a perfect 20 saves on 20 shots to help the Avalanche force extra hockey. Regular starter Mackenzie Blackwood is still battling an injury, but should be close to returning.
In the shootout Miner allowed one goal while Nichushkin, Necas and Artturi Lehkonen all couldn’t find the back of the net for Colorado. Seth Jarvis beat Miner on the very first attempt and that proved to be enough.
The power-play remains a concern, as the Avs went just 1-8 in that department. It’s clearly been the most frustrating part of an otherwise solid October.
On a night where the Avalanche wore their throwback Quebec Nordiques jerseys and the Hurricanes honored their old home with Hartford Whalers sweaters, the hockey was excellent.
Colorado came up a little short, but we could absolutely see this battle again in June with a much bigger prize on the line.
