Avalanche’s Scott Wedgewood leaves game with injury

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood has left Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres with an apparent injury.

The injury came during a controversial play early in the third period of the game. Wedgewood sustained the injury when Zach Benson fell into the crease and took out Wedgewood’s legs from under him, and he immediately grabbed his legs in pain. Benson proceeded to get up, grab the puck that had just gone behind the net, and put it in the net on a wraparound while Wedgewood was still in pain. The goal was not waived off, and gave the Sabres a 4-2 lead in the game.

Wedgewood needed help off the ice after the play, and never returned to the game. He had allowed 4 goals on 18 shots for a .778% save percentage in the game, with the Avs coming back to win 6-5 in overtime.

Wedgewood’s injury comes just as the Avalanche had finally got their goaltending problems sorted out, as they had acquired both him and Mackenzie Blackwood within a couple weeks of each other to revamp their tandem. Going into Thursday’s game, Wedgewood has a 5-4-1 record, a .908% SV%, a shutout and a +0.75 goals saved above expected in 11 games this season, including a 4-2-0 record, a .932% SV%, a shutout and a +5.06 GSAx in 6 games with the Avs.

Blackwood took over for Wedgewood to close out the game, allowing 1 goal on 3 shots and getting credit for the win. Should Wedgewood miss any significant time, it will likely mean that Blackwood will get more of the starter’s load in his absence. Going into Thursday’s action, Blackwood has an 11-10-3 record, a .917% SV%, 1 shutout and an +11.46 GSAx in 25 games this season, including a 5-1-0 record, a .936% SV% and a +5.05 GSAx in 6 games with the Avs.

The Avalanche will look to extend their six-game winning streak when they host the Montreal Canadiens on Friday at 5 p.m. MST. They currently sit in third place in the Central Division with a 24-15-0 record.