Avalanche goalie Wedgewood seeks stability after rough start

Colorado Avalanche fans watching the team's recent games have seen a different face in net than usual. Scott Wedgewood, the longtime backup who became a fan favorite last season, is struggling to find his rhythm in the early part of the 2026-27 campaign. The 34-year-old goalie has made just five starts in the club's first 16 games, a sharp contrast to his role last year when he started 13 of the first 16 contests.

The difficulty became evident in the team's last two losses. On Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, Wedgewood was pulled after allowing four goals on nine shots in a 7-2 defeat to the Blue Jackets. That outing followed a start in Nashville where he faced 35 shots and gave up six goals in a 6-2 loss to the Predators. Wedgewood's save percentage for the season currently stands at .867, with a record of 1-3-1.

"I'm trying to figure it out," Wedgewood said after the Columbus game. "You want to win. You want to play. You want to do everything right. I put my mindset in that. Just try and do what you think is going to work, then go back to the drawing board if it doesn't."

Last season, Wedgewood thrived when given more responsibility. He led the NHL in save percentage at .921 and goals-against average at 2.02 across 45 games. Alongside teammate Mackenzie Blackwood, he helped the Avalanche win the Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals in the league. This season, head coach Jared Bednar stated before the year began that Blackwood would have every opportunity to serve as the primary goaltender. Wedgewood supported that decision, accepting a reduced role.

The shift has presented a mental challenge for the veteran. "It hasn't been a bad year. It's been two bad games," Wedgewood noted. "I've only played five and all of them were a back-to-back except one. It's a mental challenge. My job is give them a good first period and give them a chance to win a hockey game. The last two, I haven't done that."

Wedgewood has a history of adapting to limited roles. He changed franchises five times before joining Denver in November 2024. Since becoming a regular in the NHL in the 2020-21 season, he has never finished a campaign with a save percentage lower than .899 or a goals-against average worse than 3.14. For a backup goaltender, a rough night often means a long wait for the next start, unlike position players who may get another chance within a few days.

"You don't get the opportunity to bounce right back into it and go, but that's been the role of my career for the most part," Wedgewood said. "I know how to do it. It's just unfortunate the last two haven't gone my way. Get back to practice and just work harder."

Bednar defended his goaltending group, noting that the 18 skaters on the ice also played poorly in the Columbus loss. The coach expressed confidence in Wedgewood's ability to recover. "He's going to have his scheduled starts," Bednar said. "I have a lot of faith in Wedge. I've seen him play really well for us. He'll have his scheduled starts and so will Blackwood and we'll go from there."

The Avalanche will not face another back-to-back schedule until November 18 and 19, when they host the Utah Hockey Club in Salt Lake City and then play in Denver. That stretch could provide Wedgewood with his next opportunity to reset his season. He has played 70 games for the Avalanche, more than he has for any other team in his career.