Devils Winning Streak Lives On With 4-3 OT Win Against Avalanche

Published: Sunday, October 26, 2025

by Ryan Nelke

NEWARK, N.J. - The New Jersey Devils (8-1-0) defeated the Colorado Avalanche (5-1-4) on Sunday afternoon, with Jack Hughes scoring the overtime winner to extend New Jersey’s winning streak.

The Devils came into this contest looking to pick up their eighth straight win, which would tie an NHL record for the most consecutive games won following a season-opening loss.  For the Avalanche, they were playing the second game of a back-to-back after losing to the Bruins on Saturday in Boston.

The Devils struck first when Arseny Gritsyuk notched his second goal of the season, with Timo Meier being credited with the assist.  Not even a minute later, Jack Hughes found himself in the same position and area that Gritsyuk did for his goal, and snuck one past the Avalanche goaltender, Trent Miner, to put New Jersey up two.  The assists went to Simon Nemec and Brendan Dillon.

However, Colorado prevented this one from getting out of hand, as Valeri Nichuskin cut the lead in half three minutes later, beating Devils netminder Jake Allen on a nicely placed shot.  In the closing minutes of the period, the Avalanche got a great opportunity in front of the net, and when the puck snuck behind Allen, Nathan MacKinnon took care of the rest and tapped it in, evening the game at two.

Cale Makar and Victor Olofsson picked up the assists on the first Colorado goal, while Arrturi Lekhonen and Devon Toews tallied the helpers on the MacKinnon score.  The period would come to a close with the score tied at two.

Jack Drury got a great chance less than two minutes into the second frame, but Allen flashed the leather and robbed the Colorado center.  Allen played a vital role in this period and contest, making many key saves to keep New Jersey in the game.

With just over seven minutes to go in the period, the puck bounced out to center ice and Connor Brown was in the right place, at the right time.  Brown took advantage of the opportunity, beating Miner on the breakaway and giving the Devils the 3-2 lead.

The period would come to an end shortly thereafter, with New Jersey holding the one goal edge.  However, Colorado dominated in the shot department that period, outshooting the Devils 9-3.

Late in the third, the Avalanche found the equalizer when Brock Nelson got one behind Allen, and with just over six minutes to go, the game was all tied up.  The score would hold at 3-3, and head to overtime.

With the Devils winning streak on the line, they would have to continue it by winning in their first overtime game of the year, and Jack Hughes did just that a minute and 53 seconds in, as he found himself right in front of Miner, and sniped a shot over his right shoulder.

Simon Nemec would be credited with his third assist of the game, while the Devils secured yet another win against a tough opponent.

The Devils will now head off to Colorado as they complete the home-and-home series against the Avalanche on Tuesday night, with puck drop set for 9 p.m.

Ryan Nelke is the Assistant Sports Director and can be reached at nelkerya@shu.edu.

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