Devils Pick Their Spots to Edge Avalanche 4-3
Colorado attempted more shots, but New Jersey got the better looks, and the 4-3 final followed the chances rather than the volume.
Measured by expected goals (how many goals a team's chances were worth), the Devils generated 4.20 to Colorado's 2.78. That is the hidden story: the Avalanche threw plenty at the net, but more of the dangerous ones came the other way. New Jersey also put more shots on goal, 41 to 33.
Scott Wedgewood kept Colorado in it with 37 saves on 40 shots. At the other end, Jake Allen made 30 saves on 33 shots, so New Jersey needed its edge in chance quality to come out ahead.
The goals were spread around: Jesper Boqvist and Arseny Gritsyuk each scored, and Luke Evangelista had a goal and an assist. For Colorado, Artturi Lehkonen scored twice and Cale Makar added two assists.
Gabriel Landeskog scored once and also rang a post, a near-miss that could have changed the night.