Devils Face Avalanche | PREVIEW

NEW JERSEY DEVILS (4-4-0) vs COLORADO AVALANCHE (5-3-1)

The Devils begin a three-game homestand starting Tuesday when they host Colorado at Prudential Center. Puck drop is at 7:08 p.m. ET.

Read below for your Game Preview presented by Otter Moving and Storage and check back for the Morning Skate Recap.

MORNING SKATE RECAP

NEWARK, NJ. — Check back following New Jersey's 10:30 a.m. morning skate for updates on lineups, injuries and more ahead of the game.

THE SCOOP

The Devils open a 3-game homestand against the Avalanche on Tuesday night. New Jersey has opened the 2026-27 season with a 4-4-0 mark. The club is coming off a disappointing 4-2 setback in Washington. 

Jack Hughes leads the team in scoring with nine points (2g-7a) through eight games. The loss in Washington was only the second time this season he was held off the scoresheet. Captain Nico Hischier paces the club with four goals, including three on the power play. The Devils have used a goalie rotation with Jake Allen and Nico Daws in net.

The Avalanche have a quick two-day back-to-back trip to the East to face Philadelphia and New Jersey. Colorado is 5-3-1 to begin the season following a 3-2 loss against the Flyers. 

Nathan MacKinnon continues his claim as the best player in the NHL. He leads the club in all three offensive categories with six goals, 10 assists and 16 points. He has six multi-point games this year, including three games of three-or-more points. He's coming off a four-point (1g-3a) effort against Pittsburgh. 

The Avs are loaded with star power. Beyond MacKinnon, Cale Makar is a former Norris Trophy winner as the league's best defenseman. And they boast the talents of Martin Necas, Arturri Lehkonen, Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri and Gabriel Landeskog. The team has leaned on former Devil MacKenzie Blackwood in goal, though he played against Philly so it's likely New Jersey will see another former Devil in Scott Wedgewood.

WHO’S HOT

Devils: Arseny Gritsyuk

Gritsyuk picked up two points (1g-1a) against Washington. He has five points (3g-2a) in his past five games, that includes three goals in the past four games. 

Avalanche: Artturi Lehkonen

Lehkonen has two goals and five points (2g-3a) in his last four games for Colorado. His six goals on the season tie Nathan MacKinnon for most on the team. 

INJURIES

Devils:

• Luke Evangelista: Illness, day-to-day

• Connor Brown: Undisclosed, day-to-day

• Nick Bjugstad: Recovering from torn left pectoral muscle, out until January

• Seamus Casey: Knee, 8-10 weeks

Avalanche:

• Zachary L’Heureux: undisclosed

• Nicolas Roy: undisclosed

• Logan O’Connor: lower-body, LTIR

• Georogii Merkulov: undisclosed, IR

26-27 REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Oct. 20 vs. Colorado

• Oct. 28 at Colorado

GAME NOTES

• The Devils and Avalanche meet for the first time this season. They face each other once more a week later in Colorado to complete the season series.
• Arseny Gritsyuk has 3 goals in the past 4 games. 
• Gritsyuk tied a career high in shots with 6 against Washington. 
• Dawson Mercer has a 3-game point/assist streak. 
• Stefan Noesen has a 3-game point streak (1g-2a).