NHL: Ottawa Senators at Colorado Avalanche - Source: Imagn — Jared Bednar praises Colorado Avalanche’s best defensive performance in 4-0 win over Devils (Source: Imagn)

Avs HC Jared Bednar makes his feelings known after Colorado Avalanche's 4-0 shutout win over Devils

Modified Dec 09, 2024 11:36 GMT

The Colorado Avalanche notched up a 4-0 victory against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Dec. 8. Scott Wedgewood made 25 saves for his seventh career shutout, and his first with the Avalanche. Wedgewood has a 2-1-0 record in three games since being traded from Nashville on Nov. 30.

Ross Colton scored his ninth goal in 12 games, while Casey Mittelstadt and Calvin de Haan each had two assists. The Avalanche have won three of their last four games.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar was pleased with the team's defense.

"I think it was our best game of the year on the defensive side of it,” he said (via NHL.com). “To be honest with you, I just felt like we looked really organized, really disciplined, above the puck early."

Bednar felt the team made it tough for the Devils to find open ice and speed.

"A really good offensive team we’re playing there and I felt like we made it difficult on them to generate any type of speed and find open ice all the time," he added.

Colton gave the Colorado Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 4:07 in the first period with a wrist shot from close range. Mittelstadt set up the play behind the net. Colton had missed 17 games with a broken foot before returning on Saturday. Logan O'Connor then redirected a shot from de Haan to make it 2-0 at 14:52.

Colorado Avalanche blocked 19 shots in comparison to Devils' 12. They also had six takeaways whereas Devils had only two. Now Colorado leads in the season series against the Devils 1-0.

Jared Bednar liked Colorado Avalanche's play in the second period

Artturi Lehkonen made it 3-0 with a wrist shot over Jake Allen’s glove on a breakaway at 14:36 of the second period. The Devils were outshot 10-2 in the second. New Jersey Devils' Meier had a chance to make it 3-1 but missed the open net after his shot hit Devon Toews. Parker Kelly scored an empty-net goal at 16:05 to make it 4-0.

Jared Bednar praised his team's overall performance.

“Connected group, start to finish,” Bednar added. “And you know what? We created a lot of really good scoring chances too. I really liked our second period when it comes to what we created, but we were able to chip away and build a lead. The commitment didn’t go away on the defensive side.”

The Colorado Avalanche's solid defense and offense helped them secure the win. Both teams will face each other again on Feb. 26.