DENVER (AP) \u2014 Scott Wedgewood’s stellar start to the season earned the Colorado Avalanche goaltender a one-year contract extension on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Slated to be the backup for Colorado this season, Wedgewood was thrust into the starting role with Mackenzie Blackwood sidelined by a lower-body injury. The 33-year-old Wedgewood has a 10-1-2 record with a .913 save percentage and a 2.26 goals against average (GAA).<\/p>\n
His 10 wins lead the NHL.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had talked about (an extension) in the summer and then the season started and obviously I got off to a good start and conversations were had,\u201d Wedgewood explained before a game Thursday against Buffalo. \u201cI was trying to keep them in the back of my mind and just go to work and play for the team and things like that. Down on paper now and really excited about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The well-traveled Wedgewood has proven highly dependable since being acquired from the Nashville Predators last November for fellow backup goalie Justus Annunen. Wedgewood’s gone 23-5-3 since his arrival in Colorado.<\/p>\n
This season, he\u2019s been counted on even more and started the opening nine games with Blackwood out. Wedgewood currently boasts a five-game win streak, which is tied for the longest of his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to say taking it to a new level, but I think the importance of him being solid in the net for us to this part in the season with (Blackwood) out is obviously key,\u201d said Colorado coach Jared Bednar, whose team has the most points in the league. \u201cNot only just kind of surviving without (Blackwood), but excelling in that position and giving us a chance to win every night.\u201d<\/p>\n
This definitely helps \u2014 playing behind an offense powered by Nathan MacKinnon that’s averaging a league-best four goals a game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you make a mistake early, we can score a goal and ease back into it,\u201d Wedgewood said. “You have a team that has a chance to win every night. That\u2019s a real big confidence-builder for a goalie to get out there and be like, \u2018You know, I don\u2019t technically have to be perfect.\u2019 I want to be, but you can also get away with a few mistakes on this team.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s fitting in not just with the Avalanche but at his local grocery store, too. He recently had a discussion over goalie gear in the meat section at Trader Joe\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fans have really taken to me,\u201d Wedgewood said. “The \u2018Wedge-y\u2019 chants (at games) and all that stuff, you can\u2019t not feel like you fit in and feel welcome by everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wedgwood has played in 168 career games with the Colorado, Nashville, Dallas, Arizona and New Jersey. When Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup in 2019-20, he served as a \u201cBlack Ace,\u201d which is an extra player from the team\u2019s minor-league affiliate.<\/p>\n
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