The latest All About The Jersey gamethread previews the New Jersey Devils (8‑4‑0) visiting the Colorado Avalanche (6‑5‑1) on Oct. 28, 2026, with tip‑off at 9:00 PM EDT. The game will air on MSGSN and stream on Devils Hockey Radio. Highlights include a photo of Jack Hughes #86 and Dougie Hamilton #7 celebrating a goal from the previous season’s matchup. Readers are encouraged to join the discussion via the SB Nation app’s Game Chat feature, while adhering to community rules on conduct and content sharing.
Nicolas Roy returns to the Colorado Avalanche after a six‑game lower‑body injury layoff, bringing a boost to a team that went 2‑3‑1 without him. The 6‑foot‑4 forward, praised by coach Jared Bednar for his puck‑handling and compared to former star Valeri Nichushkin, will rejoin the second line with Brock Nelson and Gabriel Landeskog, reshuffling Nazem Kadri and Fedor Svechkov. Roy, who has four points in six games, says he feels “good” on the ice and aims to improve the Avs’ defensive consistency as they chase better results.
On Wednesday, Oct. 28, the New Jersey Devils will face the Colorado Avalanche for the season series finale, rounding out the second half of a back-to-back on the road. Last…
Detroit’s trade saga may soon snap as interim GM Shawn Horcoff intensifies talks to move captain Dylan Larkin and young defenseman Simon Edvinsson. According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Larkin has expanded his no‑trade list to ten U.S. clubs, now including the New Jersey Devils alongside interest from Minnesota, Carolina, Colorado, Dallas, Florida, Tampa Bay, Vegas and Washington. Horcoff is actively courting rival front offices, seeking top‑tier young centers and elite prospects in exchange for the core pieces. The Red Wings remain patient, rejecting offers they deem insufficient, and will hold out for a “home‑run” return that matches Detroit’s long‑term re‑tooling plan.
Four games, two road teams on the second night of a back-to-back, and starting goalies still up in the air in most of them. Everything you need before puck drop.
The Colorado Avalanche (6-5-1) host the New Jersey Devils (8-4-0) at Ball Arena on Oct. 28, with a 7:08 p.m. MT tip‑off. After a 1-3-0 skid, Colorado shuffles its lines: Nic Roy returns to the second line, moving Nazem Kadri back to center on the third, while Fedor Svechkov shifts to the fourth line and Parker Kelly slides to his natural wing. Mackenzie Blackwood, now 3-1-0 in his last four starts, guards the net, while the Devils roll backup Jake Allen after Connor Hellebuyck’s debut. Injuries include Zachary L’Heureux (upper‑body, week‑to‑week). The game airs on Altitude TV and 92.5 FM.
The Colorado Avalanche host the New Jersey Devils on Iron Flame Night (Oct. 28, 2026) as the Devils chase a four‑game winning streak. The Devils, now 8‑4‑0, have scored 16 goals and allowed just six since Oct. 20, highlighted by a 5‑1 win over Dallas with rookie goalie Connor Hellebuyck. The Avalanche, 6‑5‑1, struggle on the road, dropping their last three away games, including a 6‑2 loss to Nashville. Expect a lineup shuffle with forward Nicolas Roy returning. Both teams aim to swing momentum before the 7 p.m. MT showdown.
The Colorado Avalanche (6‑5‑1) head to Ball Arena on Oct. 28 to avenge a 4‑3 loss to the New Jersey Devils (8‑4‑0) from a week earlier. With forwards fully healthy except Zach L’Heureux, coach Jared Bednar lines up a refreshed roster, while goalie Mackenzie Blackwood is slated to start after eight appearances this season. The Devils, riding a four‑game winning streak and a league‑best 62.75% expected‑goals rate, will rely on Jake Allen after Connor Hellebuyck’s recent debut. The matchup pits Colorado’s identity crisis against New Jersey’s surge, offering a pivotal back‑to‑back showdown.
The New Jersey Devils (8-4-0) head to Denver to face the Colorado Avalanche (6-5-1) at 9:00 PM EDT. After snapping an eight‑game win streak with an 8‑4 loss to Colorado in October 2025, the Devils are on a four‑game winning run, buoyed by solid defense that has limited opponents to 18 shots or fewer in the last three games. Jake Allen starts in goal for New Jersey, while Colorado, fresh from two days off, looks to rebound from a 6‑2 defeat by Nashville. Key matchups include Colorado’s three‑line attack (MacKinnon, Landeskog, Makar) and the Devils’ balanced ice time, with a potential return for Declan Chisholm and a double‑left‑handed third pairing. Both teams aim to prove their resilience as the Avs seek back‑to‑back wins for the first time since early October.
After a bruising loss in Nashville, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar delivers a frank post‑practice press conference, outlining the team’s recent struggles. Meanwhile, pending UFA Artturi Lehkonen’s contract extension remains unresolved, with TSN’s Insider Trading offering the latest update. In Dallas, New Jersey’s veteran netminder Connor Hellebuyck makes his Devils debut, posting a solid performance against the Stars at the American Airlines Center. The roundup also notes Ben Kindel’s return to Pittsburgh practice, Jacob Fowler’s breakout for Montreal, the Flyers’ point‑grab against Columbus, and Boston’s streak ending versus Carolina.
The New Jersey Devils trail the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Oct. 28 at 9 p.m. ET, playing the second night of a back‑to‑back after a 5‑1 win over Dallas. With a 8‑4‑0 record and a four‑game winning streak, the Devils (2‑2‑0 on the road) will start Jake Allen, who posted a 2.84 GAA and 31 saves in the Oct. 20 victory over Colorado. Colorado (6‑5‑1) is coming off a 6‑2 loss in Nashville and is projected to start Mackenzie Blackwood. Key storylines include Nico Hischier closing in on 500 career points and Nathan MacKinnon leading the Avalanche with 21 points. Both teams boast solid special‑team percentages, but underlying metrics favor New Jersey.
Four days after acquiring Connor Hellebuyck, the New Jersey Devils dominate Dallas 5-1, with Hellebuyck stopping 17 of 18 shots and Nico Hischier netting two goals. The win marks the Devils’ fourth straight victory as they head to Colorado. Meanwhile, cap‑tight Toronto eyes the highly coveted defenseman Simon Edvinsson, with at least ten teams, including San Jose and Nashville, in the mix. The roundup also notes the Avalanche’s urgency call, the Panthers’ 5-1 win over Winnipeg, and the Bruins’ point streak ending against Carolina.
Colorado Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen tops the league’s scoring charts early in the 2026‑27 season, surprising fans who expected Nathan MacKinnon or Martin Necas. At 31, Lehkonen is in the final year of his five‑year deal signed after the 2022 Stanley Cup win and will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2027. TSN’s Chris Johnston reports that GM Joe Sakic says no extension talks are underway, though Lehkonen reportedly wants to stay in Colorado. With the team’s cap already stretched by Cale Makar’s $20.4 M AAV extension, the Avalanche are weighing his age, price demand, and roster flexibility before deciding.
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar says the team's early‑season rollercoaster is rooted in a lack of urgency and consistency. After back‑to‑back losses to Philadelphia and New Jersey, Colorado rebounded with a 6‑3 win over Tampa Bay, then fell 6‑2 to Nashville. Bednar stresses that when the Avalanche play with high work ethic they dominate, but lapses lead to “horrible” execution. While past seasons saw similar shaky starts, this year’s issues aren’t tied to goaltending or depth problems, leaving concerns about deeper flaws. The next test comes Wednesday against the Devils, offering a chance to break the cycle.
The Colorado Avalanche held a pivotal practice Tuesday after a 6-2 defeat to Nashville, unveiling two key roster updates. Forward Nic Roy, cleared from an upper‑body injury that began in Winnipeg, returns to the right wing on the second line alongside Brock Nelson and Gabe Landeskog and will be ready for Wednesday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils. Meanwhile, coach Jared Bednar shifts Nazem Kadri from second‑line wing to third‑line center, pairing him with T.J. Hughes and Jaden Schwartz, while Fedor Svechkov drops to fourth‑line center. These moves add depth to the top six forwards and restore Kadri to his natural spot.
The Colorado Avalanche snap a three‑loss streak as forward Nicolas Roy returns to practice, launching coach Jared Bednar’s infamous “Bednar Blender” shuffle. Roy slides into the second‑line wing, pushing Nazem Kadri down to third‑line center (though Kadri stays on the top power‑play unit) and benching Fedor Svechkov to the fourth line. New line combos feature Landeskog‑Nelson‑Roy and Lehkonen‑MacKinnon‑Necas, while the power‑play units remain largely unchanged. With Taylor Makar still out, the Avs may recall him if Roy is unavailable, and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck faces no immediate threat from the Devils. The changes aim to revitalize a struggling squad before Tuesday’s game in Loveland.
After 12 games, the Colorado Avalanche sit at 6‑5‑1, prompting a mixed review from the Mile High Hockey roundtable. Panelists praise the new third line—Jaden Schwartz, Fedor Svechkov and rookie TJ Hughes—for each scoring at least twice and showing unexpected chemistry. However, analytics reveal red flags: the Avs rank 21st in expected goals (47.24%) despite leading the league with a 14.23% shooting percentage, and their PDO sits at a lofty 1.054, suggesting luck fuels their standing. Defensively, they’ve allowed 24 goals on 29 expected, and recent losses to Nashville and Philadelphia expose lapses in effort and urgency. The consensus is that early-season inconsistencies must be addressed before they become chronic.
The Big Lead releases its Week 5 NHL power rankings, placing all 32 clubs from worst to first after four games of the 2026‑27 season. The top story is New Jersey’s blockbuster trade for goalie Connor Hellebuyck, instantly boosting the Devils’ netminding. At the bottom, the Vancouver Canucks surrender the most goals per game, while the Colorado Avalanche, despite a scorching offense, lag defensively at #16. Mid‑tier teams like the Washington Capitals (#18) and Nashville Predators (#20) show offensive promise but need defensive tightening. The rankings highlight early struggles for Chicago, Los Angeles, and Calgary, and note promising goaltending for Detroit and Winnipeg.
The Colorado Avalanche return to practice after a poor loss to Nashville, prompting speculation about line changes from coach Jared Bednar. Meanwhile, rookie Detroit goaltender Michal Postava shines, shutting down Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as the Red Wings beat the Oilers 8-3-1. The edition also updates NHL trade boards—highlighting the Connor Hellebuyck chatter—and notes other league news, including the Devils’ West Coast trip, Flyers’ injured veteran, Seth Jones’ return to Chicago, and Alexander Nikishin’s contract saga.
The Colorado Avalanche enter this week looking to steady their season after an uneven stretch of results. A convincing victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning offered a reminder of the…
The Calgary Flames have snapped a winning streak, clinching three straight victories over Carolina, Minnesota and Detroit, and now gear up for a packed week featuring games against Toronto, Edmonton, Seattle and Colorado. The Monday Mailbag tackles key topics: goalie Devin Cooley’s rare three‑game start streak, Yan Kuznetsov’s steady defensive play and his partnership with Zayne Parekh, and the latest buzz on Parekh’s pending contract extension. Readers also get a quick look at the top‑20 prospect rankings, with Chase Harrington and Jonathan Castagna highlighted as the season’s biggest movers.
Ryan O'Reilly scored twice and factored in four points as the Nashville Predators beat the Colorado Avalanche 6-2 Sunday at Bridgestone Arena.
After losing their second straight, a 4-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, the Avalanche needed a “get right” game. They had just that, a strong 6-3 win over one…
The Lightning dominate in Week 4, beating the Golden Knights 6-2 on Oct. 20 as Nikita Kucherov ties Steven Stamkos’ franchise goal total. They fall 6-3 to Colorado on Oct. 23, then lose 5-4 in OT to the Mammoth on Oct. 24 while Kucherov sets a new franchise record. Upcoming games: home clash vs Winnipeg on Oct. 29 (7 p.m. ET) and an away contest at Nashville on Oct. 31.
The Avalanche continue to struggle on the road, losing to an unexpectedly strong Nashville Predators despite early-season woes. In the Heritage Classic, Montreal’s Jacob Fowler shines with 33 saves, helping the Canadiens earn two points against the Winnipeg Jets. Meanwhile, Carolina’s defenseman Alexander Nikishin signs a surprising one‑year, $3 million deal, while fellow RFA Simon Edvinsson remains unsigned and courted by the Sharks. Additional notes: the Flyers are improving health-wise, the Panthers rebound after roster changes, the Blackhawks’ power‑play stalls, James Reimer returns with the Rangers, and Toronto’s blue‑line injuries persist amid wins.