NHL coaches like questions that start with, “If the playoffs started tomorrow …,” about as much as, “How did the visit to the proctologist go?”
Shortly after Scott Wedgewood authored another great performance Saturday in a 2-0 win against the rival Dallas Stars, it was time for Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar to answer a question of a similar vein. Leaving out the “if the playoffs started tomorrow” part, is Wedgewood at least making the decision for Game 1 of the playoffs a little tougher?
“No comment,” Bednar said. “I don’t have a comment on it. There’s still a lot of hockey to be played, and then I’ll make my decision on who’s starting Game 1. I feel confident in both of our guys. It’s not likely going to be just one guy. We’ll keep deploying our guys the way we have through the regular season. It’s led to a lot of success. I don’t know why we would change it, come playoff time. Both guys have had stretches where they’ve been fantastic for us, and hopefully they’re both great when we start playoffs.”
Colorado has had the best tandem in the NHL this season. Neither Wedgewood nor Mackenzie Blackwood figures to win the Vezina Trophy, though the former will likely get some votes as the current league leader in both save percentage (.918) and goals against average (2.13).
As a tandem, they are closing in on the team goaltending award -- the William Jennings Trophy, which goes to the club which allows the fewest goals during the regular season. The Avs have allowed 20 fewer than any other team.
Blackwood has been the presumptive No. 1 goalie since he arrived, with Wedgewood evolving into arguably the league's best No. 1B. But, a couple of injuries for Blackwood, combined with his own work, has allowed Wedgewood to start 40 games and appear in 42 this season -- easily career-bests at the NHL level.
"The consistency in (Wedgewood's) game over the course of a full season is, well, it's fascinating really," Bednar said. "Because you know what his career looks like as a backup and then he comes in for us and he's doing an incredible job every time he gets in there. It's super consistent, high-level hockey for him. I'm sure it's the longest and best stretch of his career. Sometimes, it's just maturity, fit and players are always working to improve. He never stops, and it's showing in his play."
Wedgewood was not particularly busy Saturday, stopping 17 shots for his third shutout of the season. When 2025 ended, Blackwood was 13-1-1 with a .924 save percentage. He was an injury away from being a top Vezina contender. But then a second ailment cost him two weeks, and he's been inconsistent in the new year.
There are two great, short stretches in there, but he's also 8-8 with an .876 save percentage overall since Jan. 1. Meanwhile, Wedgewood is now 8-2-1 with a .937 save percentage since the Olympic break, and Saturday was another statement effort.
"He was great. I mean, what can I say?" Bednar said. "I thought we did a really good job in front of him and scoring chances were hard to come by on both sides of it. Both teams had some good looks. Both goalies were good."
Not only has Wedgewood been excellent since the Olympic break, that includes two starts and a relief appearance against Dallas -- a place he called home for three seasons from 2021-24. He has allowed one goal in a little more than 166 minutes against these Stars since March 6, including two wins and no goals in 101 minutes at American Airlines Center.
It was the final regular-season meeting Saturday, but these two rivals have met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs each of the past two seasons and will be significant favorites to meet again in the second round about a month from now.
"If I'm called upon, I'm ready to go any night," Wedgewood said. "I think that's the nature of the beast in the playoffs and how we both handled this year. It doesn't matter. If they tap (Blackwood), if they tap me, we're both ready to go. If you were to ask anybody at the start of the year, if both of our goalies would be, whatever it is (49)-15? One hundred percent, every day of the week and twice on Sundays. You're taking either one of our numbers. We're very happy with what we've done. Him supporting me and me supporting him is a blessing.
"When the playoffs come, we're going to use both of us, regardless of who starts and who finishes," Wedgewood said. "It's going to be a tandem. I feel like the way the year is gone and how we've operated, if we come back here and I'm needed, I'll be ready."
