Jake Allen Likely to Start as Devils Face Avalanche After Hellebuyck’s Debut

Jake Allen looks like the likely choice in goal when New Jersey meets Colorado on Wednesday, with Connor Hellebuyck scheduled to make his Devils debut against Dallas the night before. Hellebuyck owns an 18-9-4 career record against the Avalanche, but asking him to start on consecutive nights would be an unlikely plan. Allen, meanwhile, has already faced Colorado this season and helped New Jersey earn a 4-3 win.

There’s no confirmation in the available information about New Jersey’s Wednesday starter. The back-to-back schedule makes Allen the more probable option, but Hellebuyck’s strong career results against Colorado leave a tempting footnote. If he plays Tuesday, though, the practical question is whether the Devils would want to turn his first appearance in a New Jersey sweater into two starts in two nights. Based on the schedule alone, that seems doubtful.

Allen has a recent result to build on

Allen’s career record against Colorado is 12-8-3. More immediately, he was in net when the Devils beat the Avalanche 4-3 a week earlier, posting a .912 save percentage. That result gives New Jersey a recent reference point as the clubs meet again, though one close game doesn’t settle what to expect from the rematch.

The previous meeting also showed how much pressure the Devils could put on Colorado. Timo Meier led New Jersey with eight shots, a workload that reflects a demanding night for the Avalanche defense. If Colorado wants a different result, limiting those opportunities will matter. Allen’s numbers and the earlier score are useful context, but the matchup will still turn on what happens in front of him: whether the Avalanche protect the middle, prevent second chances and make the Devils work to reach dangerous areas.

Allen’s season save data points to a specific test. NHL.com’s save charts list 39 high-danger saves, while his save percentage on shots from right in front of him is .841. Those figures describe different parts of his performance; they don’t guarantee how he’ll handle the next game. Still, they underline why Colorado should value direct attacks and clean looks near the crease instead of letting chances pass by.

Nathan MacKinnon is one player who could make those openings count. The source’s read is straightforward: if he gets a high-danger opportunity, he should take it. Against a goaltender who has faced a heavy volume of dangerous chances, making the most of a clear look is a sound priority. Colorado’s challenge is to create those chances through execution, rather than assume they’ll appear simply because the roster has high-end talent.

Colorado needs a sharper defensive response

The Avalanche’s offensive ability isn’t the main concern raised by the previous game. Their defensive breakdowns are the issue. Colorado has shown it can generate offense, but loose coverage and missed assignments can hand an opponent repeat chances. Meier’s eight shots are one reminder of the pressure New Jersey can apply when the Avalanche don’t close down space.

There’s room for the Avalanche to improve, and the talent on the roster gives them a basis for a better performance. But potential only matters when it shows up in the details: sorting out coverage, staying connected through defensive transitions and clearing danger before a second attempt develops. The article doesn’t identify a particular lineup adjustment or coach’s assessment, so the next game will offer the clearest evidence of whether Colorado can tighten its play.

That defensive work has added importance after a 6-2 loss to Nashville on Sunday. Colorado can’t change that result, but it can respond with a more energetic start against New Jersey. A slow opening or another stretch of defensive lapses would make the task harder. The Avalanche need to play with pace and make the Devils defend, while still protecting their own end.

The goaltender matters, but the matchup stays the same

Whether Allen or Hellebuyck starts, Colorado’s central task won’t change: get to the net, finish the chances it creates and keep New Jersey from building another heavy shot count. Hellebuyck’s 18-9-4 record against the Avalanche would make his presence notable, but Allen’s recent win over Colorado gives the Devils a credible option if the schedule rules out consecutive starts for their new goaltender.

For New Jersey, the game also offers a chance to test whether the pressure that produced Meier’s eight shots can carry over. For Colorado, it’s an opportunity to show that the Nashville loss and the earlier defensive problems won’t dictate the next performance. The standings impact of Wednesday’s result isn’t specified in the source, so the immediate measure is simpler: which team sets the pace and which one corrects the problems exposed in the previous meeting.

Hellebuyck’s start against Dallas comes first, and his performance there could shape the discussion around Wednesday. Even if he’s available, a second straight start remains unlikely. Allen appears positioned to take the net against Colorado, while the Avalanche’s response will depend less on the name across from them than on whether they defend with enough discipline to keep New Jersey’s attack from taking over.