Scott Wedgewood Played Strong in First Start Since Injury

The 32-year-old netminder was injured in the top of the third period in the 6-5 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres. Zach Benson was knocked on top of Wedgewood’s right leg. Benson then scored and the officials ruled that because contact was initiated by Parker Kelly the Sabres were awarded the goal. Wedgewood did not return and was out until he was reactivated on Jan. 12.

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“He was a little rusty … He also made some big saves when we needed them, and at key times of the game, for me, when the game was tight,” head coach Jared Bednar said. “You have to expect a little bit of rust. He hasn’t played since Buffalo, nine games ago, and then the injury coming off that he doesn’t spend a bunch of time on the ice.”

It was not a planned start for Wedgewood, it was a statistical one that just so happened to be against his former team.

“We got (Mackenzie) Blackwood, who’s played now eight of nine, and he needs a break too,” Bednar said. “There’s no easy game to sort of choose, because it’s Mini (Minnesota Wild) and it’s Winnipeg (Jets), it’s all divisional opponents. We just felt like for the timing for Blackwood and for Wedgewood now, that it’s been 18 days or so since he’s played, he’s got to go in, and he got the job done.”

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Blackwood finished the game against Buffalo to earn the win and went 3-2-1 since Wedgewood was injured. The consistency and dependability in net have been a significant advantage for the Avalanche.

“Of course, it makes a huge, it’s a big impact on this team. Both of our goalies are playing great hockey. So it helps a lot,” Artturi Lehkonen said after the win.

Wedgewood shook off the slow start to earn his fifth win since joining the Avalanche on Nov. 30, 2024 . He did not see much action after allowing the first goal of the game from former Avs forward Matt Duchene just three minutes and 24 seconds into the game.

“I still go through my checklist I like to check, every time there’s a line change, hands that come on the ice. There’s little habits that I like to do to keep the mind engaged. You can’t just daze and get bored,” Wedgewood said. “Nice for the guys to go to work and get them back on the early one and then get a nice lead and obviously held on to good two points.”