The New Jersey forward records a goal and an assist against Colorado, helping his team earn a 4-3 victory at Prudential Center.
Luke Evangelista delivered a strong performance in his return to the lineup, recording a goal and an assist as the New Jersey Devils defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The right wing finished with two points, six shots on goal and a plus-two rating, contributing to New Jersey's victory at Prudential Center. His performance earned him the game's first-star recognition.
Return from Illness
Evangelista's contribution was particularly notable because he returned after missing the Devils' previous three games with an illness. He wasted little time making an impact, opening the scoring in the first period and later assisting on another New Jersey goal. His return provided an immediate offensive boost as the Devils worked to secure a victory against a Colorado team that entered the matchup with a 5-4-1 record.
Key Plays and Performance
The 24-year-old forward put New Jersey ahead at 6:40 of the opening period. He scored with a wrist shot from the slot, giving the Devils a 1-0 lead. Nico Hischier and Jonas Siegenthaler received assists on the goal. Evangelista's finish helped New Jersey establish an early advantage before Colorado responded to tie the game.
The Avalanche answered at 14:32 of the first period when Gabriel Landeskog scored to make it 1-1. The teams remained competitive as the game progressed, with New Jersey needing additional contributions to regain control. Evangelista supplied one of those important plays in the second period, showing that his value extended beyond scoring his own goal.
At 12:33 of the second period, Evangelista assisted on Declan Chisholm's goal, which put the Devils ahead 2-1. Chisholm scored with a shot from the left point that deflected past Colorado goaltender Scott Wedgewood. The assist gave Evangelista his second point of the night and completed his goal-and-assist performance.
Team Effort and Game Outcome
New Jersey added to its advantage in the third period. Arseny Gritsyuk scored at 4:39 to make it 3-1, and Jesper Boqvist extended the lead to 4-1 with an empty-net goal at 16:05. Colorado responded with two late goals from Artturi Lehkonen, who scored at 16:47 and again at 19:55. The late push narrowed the margin, but the Devils held on for the 4-3 victory. Boqvist's empty-net goal ultimately stood as the game-winner, rather than Evangelista's opening goal.
Evangelista finished with six shots on goal in 16 minutes and 54 seconds of ice time, according to the supplied player statistics. He recorded a plus-two rating and did not receive any penalty minutes. He also finished without a power-play goal or power-play assist. His two points came through his even-strength goal and assist, both of which contributed directly to New Jersey's scoring effort.
Season Overview and Impact
The performance strengthened Evangelista's early-season numbers. Through five games in the supplied 2026-27 regular-season statistics, he had two goals and one assist for three points, with a minus-one rating and 12 shots on goal. He also had one power-play goal and four penalty minutes. His two-point outing against Colorado accounted for two of his three season points at that stage.
Evangelista had previously recorded two goals against Utah on October 6, although the Devils lost that game 5-3. He went without a point in the next two games listed in the supplied game log before returning to the scoresheet against Colorado. His latest performance gave him another productive outing and demonstrated his ability to contribute as both a finisher and a playmaker.
The Devils' victory was also a team effort. Goaltender Jake Allen made 31 saves, while Gritsyuk and Chisholm added goals and Boqvist supplied the decisive tally. Evangelista's two-point performance was an important part of that collective effort, particularly after his three-game absence.
For his timely opening goal, second-period assist, six shots on goal and positive plus-minus rating, Evangelista was a deserving choice for Player of the Game. His return gave New Jersey an immediate offensive contribution and helped the Devils earn a 4-3 win over Colorado.