Same story, different state.
It happened again.
The Colorado Avalanche have now encountered overtime on four separate occasions this season, yet, they have failed to emerge victorious in any of these instances. Sunday's contest against the New Jersey Devils served as the latest example. Despite rallying from a deficit to equalize with just over six minutes remaining in regulation, the Avalanche once again faltered in the extra frame. Jack Hughes, with a decisive flourish, netted the game-winning goal at Prudential Center, propelling the Devils to a 4-3 triumph and leaving Colorado to grapple with their fourth straight defeat.
The Avalanche were 8-3-1 in back-to-back games a season ago, but they are 0-1-1 to start the 2025-26 campaign, as they suffered a 3-2 defeat to the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Saturday.
Colorado saw goals from Valeri Nichushkin, Nathan MacKinnon, and Brock Nelson, and Trent Miner made 20 saves in his first start of the season and the second of his NHL career.
Hughes scored twice for the Devils, while Arseny Gritsyuk and Connor Brown also found the back of the net, lifting New Jersey to its eighth consecutive victory since dropping the season opener 6–3 to the Carolina Hurricanes. Jake Allen made 21 saves.
First Period
The Devils scored twice in 37 seconds nearly 10 minutes into the first period. The first came on a crisp give-and-go capped by Gritsyuk, who ripped a laser over Miner’s shoulder to make it 1–0 New Jersey. Moments later, Hughes glided through the neutral zone and beat Miner from nearly the same spot, glove side, doubling the Devils’ lead.
Nelson, the Avalanche’s second-line center who’s had difficulty avoiding penalties early in the season, unleashed an 81 mph wrist shot with just under eight minutes left in the frame, but Allen turned it aside cleanly.
Nichushkin finally got Colorado on the board, burying his fifth of the season after a Cale Makar shot deflected off a Devils defender. The 6’3”, 209-pound winger’s eyes locked onto the rebound, and he hammered it with authority, sending it whizzing over Allen’s glove.
With under two minutes remaining in the period, MacKinnon tapped in a rebound off the post for his seventh of the year. Artturi Lehkonen, who played in his 600th career NHL game, took the initial shot, Martin Necas tried to wrap it around, and when it clanged off iron, MacKinnon was right there on the doorstep to clean it up.
Second Period
Nelson was whistled for tripping Gritsyuk 7:28 into the frame, but the Avalanche’s penalty kill held firm. With just under six minutes remaining, Luke Hughes was sent off for tripping Necas, who crashed hard into the boards and was slow to rise — though he remained in the game. Once again, Colorado failed to capitalize on the man advantage.
Then, with 7:09 left in the period, a sloppy line change proved costly. The puck was cleared to center ice, where former Edmonton Oiler Brown corralled it and broke free on a breakaway, slipping a shot past Miner to restore New Jersey’s lead at 3–2.
It was a frustrating sequence for the Avalanche, who outshot the Devils 11–3 in the period but surrendered the only goal. They entered the third trailing by one and staring down the possibility of a fourth straight loss.
Third Period
Nelson tied the game with 6:05 remaining in regulation, taking a crisp feed from Colton in the slot and ripping a perfectly placed shot to even things at 3–3.
And once again, we went to overtime.
Overtime
After MacKinnon’s pocket pick deep in the attacking zone, the Devils sprang into a swift counterattack. Hughes’ initial backhand attempt sailed wide, but Necas’ clearing attempt was intercepted by Simon Nemec, the former 2022 second‑overall pick. Nemec slid the puck to Hughes at the right circle, and with a quick pump fake, Hughes unleashed a precise wrist shot that found the top shelf, securing the game‑winning goal.
Takeaways
Same story, different setting. Colorado showed resilience to earn a point, but for the second time in as many overtimes, MacKinnon lost the puck and was slow to recover on the backcheck. Miner was steady under pressure, yet against a team like the Devils, mistakes are costly. Once again, the power play struggled, going 0-for-2.
Next Game
The Avalanche (5-1-4) return to Ball Arena on Tuesday to face the Devils (8-1) for the second and final time on the year. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. local time.
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