Heika's Take: Wedgewood reigns supreme after fight between heavyweights

NEWARK, N.J. - Scott Wedgewood always embraces a chance to help his team.
And the backup goalie really was happy about Tuesday.

Wedgewood stopped 35 shots to help push the Stars over the New Jersey Devils, the team which drafted him. In battling the player who was acquired with the draft pick New Jersey received in exchange for Wedgewood, the 30-year-old not only received a bit of redemption, he also helped the Stars earn some payback.
Coming off a 2-1 loss at Pittsburgh on Monday where Dallas lost on a goal in the final minute, and playing the second night of a back-to-back, the Stars took a hard-earned 4-1 win by holding on late and adding two empty-net goals.
"It's funny, we've got a lot of Jersey connections here," said Stars coach Peter DeBoer, who used to coach the Devils, in reference to himself, Wedgewood, and assistant coach Alain Nasreddine, who spent seven years in New Jersey as an assistant. "Obviously, Wedgy has some connections here, and Nas and I do, so I was really happy for those two guys. I think any time you're coming back and playing against your old team - Wedgewood was drafted here, and Nas spent seven years here - it was a big win for those guys."

The Devils honored Nasreddine with a video board salute, and Wedgewood had his own celebration.
Wedgewood was drafted by the Devils in 2010 and spent six seasons with the organization before being traded to Arizona for a fifth-round draft pick. That pick ended up being goalie Akira Schmid, who tended twine for the Devils on Tuesday. It made for a nice battle, and both goalies were spectacular.
"It's obviously a place I consider home," said Wedgewood, who returned to the Devils last season, before moving onto Arizona again and eventually Dallas. "Drafted in [2010], traded away in [2017]. Back again, waivered away. It's just a place that's near and dear to my heart. It's obviously a fun little challenge but coming away with a win is a big part of it. It's nice to be back."

The win was more than just a win, too. DeBoer said because of the circumstances, it might have been the most important victory of the season. Dallas played well in Pittsburgh and was punched in the gut when the Penguins scored in the final minute of regulation. Then, to have to fly to Newark and try to wipe that game away was a tough ask. But Wedgewood was up to the task.
"It was an emotional letdown to lose the way we did, and really tested our resiliency to bounce back here tonight. That's what I was happiest about," DeBoer said. "We lost in the toughest way you can lose and came back tonight with a really good effort."
Both teams played strong positional defense early on, but it gave way to madcap hockey in the second period, as they exchanged chances and watched the goalie work. Dallas took the lead on a tip by Ty Dellandrea and the Devils tied it on a tip from Miles Wood. The game seemed destined for a tied third period, but then Roope Hintz jumped all over a rebound with three seconds left in the second period, and it really changed the game.
"That was a huge goal," DeBoer said. "It was a critical turning point to go into the third with the lead."
In between Ryan Suter made an upper body save on the goal line behind Wedgewood to stop a shot, and then several players offered huge, blocked shots to help calm things down in the third period. It was a great team effort, and both Wedgewood and the players said they appreciated the hard work.
"I think we have a good team," Suter said. "When we play the right way and not turn the puck over and break out well and do all the things that we've been working on these first, I don't know, 30 games. When we do those, we can play with anyone."

The Stars move to 17-8-5. The Devils fall to 21-6-2. It was a tough battle between two NHL heavyweights, and the Stars walked out with a lot of poise and confidence - and that goes for everyone.
"There's a little bit of pride for me on my side to come in, and steal some games," Wedgewood said. "Obviously, you're not going to have it every night on back-to-backs, but just to keep the team in it as long as possible, give them a chance to maybe jump ahead. I thought I did that all night."
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.