NJ Devils Goalie Scott Wedgewood Gets Win in NHL Debut

Scott Wedgewood (TheAlbanyDevils.com)

New Jersey Devils goaltender Scott Wedgewood made history on Sunday night in the team’s 2-1 victory at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

The 23-year netminder stopped 27 out of the 28 shots he faced, in his NHL debut, to earn his first career National Hockey League victory, becoming the first Devils goaltender to accomplish the feat since Martin Brodeur did it almost 24 years ago on March 26, 1992.

The win comes off the back end of a home and home against the Columbus Blue Jackets as the Devils rebounded Sunday night after falling to the Blue Jackets 6-3 on Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio. With the victory the Devils sit six points out of the final playoff spot with nine games remaining.

Wedgewood’s performance on Sunday came after finding out he would be making his NHL debut about 18-hours earlier while sitting on the Albany Devils team bus traveling back from Utica, New York after a victory against the Utica Comets. Albany coach Rick Kowalsky told him he was being sent to the big club and getting the start.

Wedgewood told the Associated Press, “I went to the back of the bus and tried to stay as calm as possible, calling my family and getting some plans in motion. I got home at 12:00 and had to take some Nyquil to fall to asleep. Then we made the trip here this morning.” Wedgewood had his parents, two brothers and a sister-in-law in attendance to watch his debut.

He added, “For a Long time I had replayed this in my head, I felt like it was just another hockey game. When it comes down to it I felt I belonged here. Those things helped me to step in and stay calm.” Wedgewood received the call up after Keith Kinkaid was struggling having to play every day after Cory Schneider went down with a lower body injury.