Victor Olofsson recorded his first career NHL hat trick and a career-high five points, powering the Colorado Avalanche to an 8-4 victory over the New Jersey Devils. The win ended the Devils’ eight-game winning streak and snapped a four-game winless skid for the Avalanche, delivering a significant momentum shift in their season.
The game took place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at Ball Arena in Denver, marking the second meeting in three days between the teams after New Jersey’s overtime win in the previous encounter. Colorado started dominantly, with Martin Necas opening the scoring on a power play just 1:24 into the first period. Rookie Zakhar Bardakov followed with his first NHL goal at 3:49, capitalizing on a breakaway to give the Avalanche an early 2-0 lead and set a aggressive offensive tone.
Olofsson began his exceptional performance early in the second period, extending the lead to 3-0 with a precise snap shot. Nathan MacKinnon then scored on a 5-on-3 power play, and Parker Kelly added a breakaway goal to push the advantage to 5-0. The Avalanche’s power play, which had struggled previously, converted on four of six opportunities, exploiting a Devils penalty kill that entered the game as the NHL’s second-best at 93.5%.
However, New Jersey mounted a dramatic comeback, scoring four goals in a span of just 4 minutes and 4 seconds. Stefan Noesen, Dougie Hamilton, Dawson Mercer, and Jack Hughes all found the net, with Hughes’ goal bringing the Devils within one at 5-4. The rapid scoring surge exposed defensive vulnerabilities in Colorado and tested their ability to maintain composure under pressure.
The Avalanche responded swiftly, with MacKinnon netting his second goal of the night on another power play just 1:12 later, restoring a two-goal cushion at 6-4. This goal proved critical in halting New Jersey’s momentum and allowed Colorado to regain control of the game. MacKinnon’s performance also included passing Milan Hejduk for fourth place on the franchise’s all-time scoring list, highlighting his enduring impact.
In the third period, Olofsson added another power-play goal and completed his hat trick with a wrist shot late in the game, sealing the 8-4 final score. His five-point night underscored the offensive depth Colorado sought when signing him in the offseason, with coach Jared Bednar praising his elite shooting. Defenseman Cale Makar facilitated much of the offense with four assists, while Scott Wedgewood made 26 saves in net.
The victory improved Colorado’s record to 6-1-4, solidifying their position in the Central Division, while New Jersey fell to 8-2-0 but remains atop the Metropolitan Division. Bednar acknowledged the offensive outburst but emphasized the need for structural improvements, while Devils coach Sheldon Keefe attributed the loss to poor defensive reads and special teams breakdowns. Both teams now look ahead, with Colorado visiting the Vegas Golden Knights and New Jersey facing the San Jose Sharks in their next contests.