Game Preview: Landeskog Replaced in Top Six: ‘You’re Not Going To Play Your Best Hockey The First 10 Games’

Gabe Landeskog won’t play in the top six on Tuesday when the Avalanche host the New Jersey Devils in the second part of a home-and-home.

Ross Colton ended Sunday’s 4-3 OT loss on the second line with Valeri Nichushkin and Brock Nelson. He’ll start there on Tuesday.

“You’re trying to start fast and trying to start strong, and while at the same time knowing you’re not going to play your best hockey the first 10 games,” Landeskog said. “You know you want to play as good as you possibly can, fine-tune things as you go.”

READ MORE: Avalanche Game 11 vs New Jersey Devils: Back At Home, Lines, Notes & How To Watch

The Devils led 2-0 and 3-2 against the Avalanche on Sunday, but still needed overtime to secure a second point. In that matchup, Colorado’s third-string netminder, Trent Miner, got the start.

This time around, the Avs are playing Scott Wedgewood, who has a pristine 4-0-0 record against New Jersey in his career with a .965 save percentage and two shutouts.

Wedgewood was in goal for each of the first nine games for Colorado before getting the day off in New Jersey. Without starter Mackenzie Blackwood available, Wedgewood has carried the load in goal. He had solid numbers through his first five starts, but in his last three, Wedgewood gave up four goals in an OT loss to Utah, four on just nine shots before getting pulled against Carolina, and three to Boston in Colorado’s only regulation loss of the season.

Blackwood is back in the lineup tonight and will serve as Wedgewood’s backup.

New Jersey enters the game riding an eight-game winning streak. Center Jack Hughes scored the winner in OT on Sunday to tie the league lead with eight goals.

Hughes was named the third star of the week following that game. He leads the Devils with 12 points, which is tied with Avs forward Martin Necas and one back of Nathan MacKinnon.