If opening night in Los Angeles for the Avalanche was a masterpiece, the home opener at Ball Arena was closer to a flop. Scott Wedgewood saved it from being a full-blown disaster.

Colorado’s netminder, who is filling in as the starter until Mackenzie Blackwood gets healthy, was stellar in net, stopping 31 of 32 shots to lead the Avalanche to a 2-1 victory over the Utah Mammoth. Several of those 32 shots were grade-A opportunities, including multiple breakaways.

There is no other way around it, he stole the game for the Avalanche. If you ask him, he’s just doing what he’s supposed to do.

“I mean, second period I made some saves that we needed, and it’s kind of my job, right? Keep the puck out of the net and give the guys a chance to find whatever wall they’re in to get out of.” Wedgewood said after the game.

His coach was a little more straightforward.

“We don’t win without him tonight, for sure,” Jared Bednar said.

It looked like there was a chance Colorado would run the Mammoth out of the building early. The Avalanche’s third line, which was quiet in Los Angeles, came together for a really pretty goal a little over halfway through the first. A nice cross-ice pass by Victor Olofsson found Jack Drury, who one-touched the puck back to a streaking Ross Colton to make it 1-0.

Instead of giving the Avalanche life, their game crumbled after.

The second period was one to forget for the Avalanche. For over 14 minutes, four of which Colorado spent on the power play, the Mammoth held the Avalanche without a shot on net. At the other end, they were giving up chance after chance, with Wedgewood making big stops on Brandon Tanev and Dylan Guenther to keep the home team ahead. A late goal by Guenther tied the game up heading into the third.

“Not moving in the second period and then lots of turnovers in the neutral zone,” Bednar said. “We kind of got going a little bit at the end of the first and then in the second, we got cute with it.”

Colorado’s power play, which has struggled through two games, took advantage of an early penalty by the Mammoth. Rather than setting up in the zone, which wasn’t working, Colorado went to work off the rush, with Cale Makar hitting a late-streaking Nathan MacKinnon. The Avalanche superstar beat Karel Vejmelka far-side to give Colorado the lead.

From that point on, it was the Wedgewood show.

A few more breakaway stops from Wedgewood and then a late blocker save on Guenther sealed the deal for Colorado, who walked away with the 2-1 win. They’ll need a much better performance on Saturday when Mikko Rantanen and the Dallas Stars come to town.

They might be a perfect 2-0 in the standings, but the coach certainly wouldn’t describe their actual play as perfect.

“The execution five-on-five with the puck has not been good for the first two games,” Bednar said.

Avalanche 2, Mammoth 1

What happened: The Avalanche walked away with a 2-1 victory thanks to their goaltender.

What went right: Colorado dominated in the face-off circle, winning 68% of the draws on the evening. Winning all those face-offs didn’t lead to a whole lot of chances for, but the team may be improved in that area this season.

What went wrong: It took the Avalanche over 14 minutes to get a shot in the second period. At one point, a fan in the crowd yelled, “Do something! I’m bored!” That about sums up the middle period for Colorado.

Avalanche goal scorers: Colton (1), MacKinnon (1)

Mammoth goal scorers: Guenther (1)

Between the pipes: Wedgewood was a monster in net, stopping 31 of the 32 shots sent his way.

What’s next: A rematch with the team that eliminated the Avalanche five months ago, as the Stars will be in town on Saturday night. That game starts at 7 p.m.