The Colorado Avalanche are on an absolute tear right now. With a blistering 18-1-6 record and a 16-game point streak, they’ve become the first team this season to hit the 40-point mark-and they’ve done it with style.
This isn’t just about one line or one hot goalie. It’s been a full-team effort, top to bottom.
But if we’re spotlighting November’s standouts, three names rise to the top. Let’s break down the Avs’ three stars of the month-and how each has helped drive one of the most dominant stretches we’ve seen in recent NHL memory.
Third Star: Scott Wedgewood - The Unexpected Backbone
Let’s start in the crease, where Scott Wedgewood has quietly become one of the most reliable netminders in the league this season. After a strong October, Wedgewood took it up a notch in November, going 6-0-1 with a sparkling 1.42 goals-against average and a .948 save percentage.
That’s elite-level goaltending by any standard. He gave up just 10 goals over seven starts, logging more than 424 minutes of ice time.
There was a particularly impressive three-game stretch where Wedgewood allowed just three goals total-giving up a single tally each to the Oilers, Ducks, and Islanders. Oh, and let’s not forget the three straight shutouts the team posted in November-one of them courtesy of Wedgewood, the other two from Mackenzie Blackwood. That kind of goaltending tandem gives Colorado a serious edge every night.
Wedgewood’s consistency didn’t go unnoticed by the front office, either. On November 13, he inked a one-year extension worth $2.5 million for next season.
It’s a well-earned reward for a guy who’s been crucial to Colorado’s early-season surge-especially during the stretch when Blackwood was out. Through 25 games, Wedgewood’s 13-1-3 record, 2.08 GAA, and .920 SV% speak for themselves.
He’s not just holding the fort-he’s helping build the foundation.
Second Star: Martin Necas - A Breakout Year in the Making
Martin Necas came into this season with something to prove-and he’s delivering. After being traded to Colorado last January, Necas is now in his first full season with the Avs, and he’s making it count.
In November, he piled up five goals and 17 points in 13 games. What’s more impressive?
Eight of his ten assists came in the final six games of the month, including three multi-point outings. That’s the kind of production you want from a top-six forward, and Necas is delivering it in bunches.
Even during a six-game goalless stretch, he remained impactful. He finished the month with a plus-14 rating, three power-play assists, and a power-play goal. That kind of two-way consistency is what separates good players from great ones.
Necas signed an eight-year, $92 million extension at the end of October-$11.5 million annually through 2033-34-and while the deal doesn’t kick in until next season, he’s already proving he’s worth every penny. With 13 goals and 33 points in 25 games and a plus-24 rating, he’s not just putting up numbers-he’s influencing games. His current 24.5% shooting percentage is a career high, and he’s already passed last season’s totals with Colorado (11 goals, 17 assists, 28 points in 30 games).
He’s fitting seamlessly into Jared Bednar’s up-tempo, attack-minded system. The question now is: can he sustain it? Necas has had streaky stretches in the past, but if he keeps this pace up, we’re talking about a 90-to-100 point season-and the potential arrival of a new superstar in Denver.
First Star: Nathan MacKinnon - The Engine That Drives It All
No surprise here-Nathan MacKinnon is the clear-cut first star of November. Honestly, he could probably be the first star every month.
MacKinnon is leading the team in every major offensive category: goals (20), assists (24), points (44), and an eye-popping plus-30 rating. He’s not just producing-he’s dominating.
In November alone, he racked up 11 goals and 26 points in 13 games. That’s exactly two points per game.
And he was consistent, logging points in 11 of those 13 contests. He closed the month on a three-game multi-point streak and had a monster three-game stretch against the Oilers, Canucks, and Ducks where he tallied 12 points-including four goals.
MacKinnon’s shooting percentage in November sat at 19.3%, and his playmaking was just as lethal as his finishing. He collected 11 even-strength assists and added four more on the power play. Right now, he leads the league in both goals and points-and if he keeps this up, the scoring title might not even be close.
What’s more, MacKinnon’s play is setting the tone for the rest of the team. When your top player is this locked in, it raises the standard across the board. He’s not just filling up the stat sheet-he’s lifting the Avalanche to another level.
Looking Ahead
The Avalanche have a favorable stretch coming up. They’ll host the 10-13-3 Canucks next, then head out east to face the Islanders, Rangers, and Flyers before a stop in Nashville.
None of those teams are currently within striking distance of Colorado in the standings. With MacKinnon leading the charge, Necas finding his rhythm, and Wedgewood locking things down in net, there’s no reason to think this team is slowing down any time soon.
If anything, the Avalanche are just getting warmed up.