Devils Hold Off Avalanche as Evangelista Returns, Gritsyuk Stays Hot
New Jersey beat Colorado 4-3 on Oct. 20 after building a lead and surviving a late push. Luke Evangelista returned from an illness and scored the opening goal, while Arseny Gritsyuk extended his goal streak to three games. Allen earned the win in a celebration game for the Devils.
New Jersey hosted Colorado on Oct. 20 in the teams’ first 2026-27 meeting. The Devils opened the scoring, saw the Avalanche equalize, then regained the lead by the middle frame. A third-period strike and an empty-netter built a cushion before Colorado scored twice late, including once with five seconds left, but the comeback fell short at 4-3.
Luke Evangelista returned after a three-game illness absence, scoring about six minutes in off a Nico Hischier feed and later assisting Declan Chisholm’s first Devils goal. Arseny Gritsyuk’s third-period effort gave him goals in three straight games and six points in nine contests. Jake Allen, honored for his 500th game, earned his 229th NHL win.
For Devils fans and the broader hockey community, Allen’s 500-game celebration may reinforce how goaltending careers are measured by durability and longevity. The team’s win could give local supporters a shared moment of pride, while Evangelista’s return and Gritsyuk’s streak may shape fan expectations and media attention around the roster. Younger players could see preparation and resilience modeled through injury and illness comebacks, though one regular-season game’s social impact is likely modest and short-lived.