The Colorado Avalanche’s stunning downfall continues, and this time, it’s a goalie’s nightmare that’s got everyone talking. After a historic 31-2-7 start to the season, the Avs have hit a rough patch, losing eight of their last 12 games, including a humiliating 7-3 blowout by the Montreal Canadiens. But here’s where it gets controversial: was this loss solely on Scott Wedgewood’s shoulders, or is there more to the story? Spoiler alert: it’s complicated.
Let’s set the scene: Bell Centre, Thursday night. The Avalanche, once unstoppable, looked like a shadow of their former selves. Wedgewood, fresh off celebrating the birth of his second child, had a night to forget, allowing seven goals on 28 shots. Meanwhile, Montreal’s Jakub Dobes, who had previously let in seven goals against the Avs earlier this season, turned the tables with 26 saves. Talk about a role reversal.
Wedgewood didn’t mince words post-game: “That’s a goalie loss,” he admitted. But he also pointed to the unlucky bounces and self-inflicted mistakes that compounded the issue. “It’s just one of those nights that gives you a slice of humble pie,” he reflected. And this is the part most people miss: while Wedgewood took responsibility, the team’s struggles go beyond the crease. The Avs have now lost four of their last five games by three goals or more, and their penalty kill has been a disaster, allowing the league’s most shorthanded goals against.
Take the first period, for example. Noah Dobson scored just 56 seconds in, and while Brock Nelson tied it up briefly, the wheels quickly fell off. A penalty by Keaton Middleton led to a power-play goal by Nick Suzuki, and then—here’s the kicker—Oliver Kapanen’s misplay resulted in Suzuki’s shorthanded goal, giving Montreal a 3-1 lead. Ouch.
Defenseman Cale Makar didn’t hold back either: “It’s not good enough… That one’s definitely fully on me,” he said, taking blame for the shorthanded goal. But is it fair to pin all the blame on individual mistakes, or is this a systemic issue? That’s the million-dollar question.
The second period saw the Avs create chances, but Dobes stood tall—until calamity struck again. A misjudged play behind the net led to Jake Evans scoring into an empty net, and Kirby Dach quickly followed with another goal, making it 5-1. Yikes.
To their credit, the Avs showed some fight. Joel Kiviranta and Ross Colton scored to cut the deficit to 5-3, but Montreal responded with two more goals, sealing the deal. Wedgewood’s final words were telling: “They played a good game today, and it’s just unfortunate that hockey teaches you lessons.”
But here’s the controversial take: While Wedgewood owned the loss, is it fair to label this a “goalie loss” when the team’s special teams and defensive breakdowns have been recurring issues? And this is where we want to hear from you: Is this solely on Wedgewood, or is the Avalanche’s slump a collective failure? Let’s spark some debate in the comments—because if there’s one thing hockey fans love, it’s a good argument.
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