New Jersey builds a three-goal cushion behind a balanced scoring effort before holding off Colorado’s late comeback attempt to earn a 4-3 win
Evangelista Opens the Scoring
New Jersey struck first at 6:40 of the opening period. Evangelista scored his third goal of the season with a wrist shot from the slot, giving the Devils a 1-0 advantage. Nico Hischier and Jonas Siegenthaler were credited with the assists.
Evangelista's return was an important part of the story. He had missed the previous three games with an illness, but immediately contributed offensively against Colorado. His goal gave New Jersey an early lead and marked the beginning of a two-point performance.
The Avalanche answered at 14:32. Gabriel Landeskog scored his fourth goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1. Cale Makar and Nazem Kadri recorded the assists, allowing Colorado to respond before the first intermission.
The teams remained tied after the opening 20 minutes. New Jersey had scored first, but Landeskog's finish ensured Colorado stayed level heading into the second period.
Chisholm Restores the Devils' Lead
The next goal came at 12:33 of the second period. Chisholm scored his first goal for New Jersey, putting the Devils ahead 2-1. His shot from the point deflected off Colorado forward Brock Nelson before getting past goaltender Scott Wedgewood. Evangelista collected the assist.
The goal occurred during a delayed-penalty situation. Rather than relying on conflicting descriptions of the play as a power-play goal, the scoring sequence confirms that Chisholm's finish gave New Jersey the lead.
That advantage remained intact through the end of the period. Colorado stayed within one goal, but the Devils entered the final frame with an opportunity to extend their margin.
Gritsyuk and Boqvist Provide Crucial Insurance
New Jersey increased its lead at 4:39 of the third period. Gritsyuk scored his fourth goal of the season after Hamilton forced a turnover by Nathan MacKinnon. Gritsyuk moved into the offensive zone, split Colorado's defensive coverage and finished with a backhand shot to make it 3-1. Hamilton earned the assist.
The goal gave New Jersey a two-goal cushion, but Colorado continued to apply pressure. Allen made important saves as the Avalanche searched for a way back into the contest.
Boqvist added a fourth goal at 16:05. With Colorado's goaltender pulled for an extra attacker, Boqvist scored into the empty net, extending New Jersey's lead to 4-1. Connor Brown recorded the assist. The goal proved decisive, ultimately standing as the game-winner after Colorado scored twice late.
Lehkonen Makes the Closing Minutes Tense
The Avalanche refused to give up. Lehkonen scored late in the third period to reduce New Jersey's advantage to 4-2, with Gavin Brindley assisting on the goal. Lehkonen struck again with five seconds remaining, bringing Colorado within one. Makar and Nelson earned the assists on the second goal.
The two goals made the final moments competitive, but Colorado could not find an equalizer before time expired. New Jersey held on for the 4-3 victory after its three-goal cushion had been reduced to one.
The precise timestamp of Lehkonen's first goal differs between the NHL's recap and Colorado's team report, so this recap avoids assigning an exact time to that goal. Both sources confirm that Lehkonen scored twice late in the third period.
Allen Reaches 500 Games as Devils Secure the Win
Allen's performance helped New Jersey withstand Colorado's late push. He was honored before the game for reaching 500 NHL appearances. NHL.com credited him with 30 saves, while the Associated Press reported 31, so the published accounts differ on his final save total.
Wedgewood stopped 37 shots for Colorado, according to NHL.com. The supplied game statistics listed New Jersey with 41 shots on goal and Colorado with 34. The Devils also recorded 18 hits to the Avalanche's 15, while both teams finished with two penalty minutes. The supplied box score listed New Jersey's faceoff percentage at 64.9%, compared with Colorado's 35.1%.
Evangelista was named the game's first star after recording a goal and an assist. Allen received second-star honors, and Wedgewood was named the third star.
New Jersey earned the win through timely scoring and a strong response to Colorado's late pressure. Evangelista opened the scoring, Chisholm restored the lead in the second period, and Gritsyuk and Boqvist added the goals that created the Devils' largest advantage.
Colorado made the finish dramatic through Lehkonen's two late goals, but the Avalanche ran out of time to complete the comeback. Boqvist's empty-net goal proved to be the difference, allowing New Jersey to protect its lead and secure the 4-3 result.
The victory moved the Devils to 5-4-0 overall, while Colorado fell to 5-4-1. Despite the late surge, New Jersey finished the night with the win at Prudential Center.