After a red-hot start to the season, the Colorado Avalanche have hit a bit of a mid-winter speed bump. They're 4-4-2 over their last 10 games - not exactly panic-worthy, but certainly a sign that this team is navigating through some turbulence. That said, Sunday afternoon in Toronto might’ve been just what the doctor ordered.
Avalanche Respond with Statement Win in Toronto
Coming off a rough 7-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado needed a response - and they delivered one in emphatic fashion. The Avs rolled into Scotiabank Arena and handled the Maple Leafs 4-1, a win that felt as decisive as the score suggests. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period and never looked back.
Brock Nelson led the charge with a vintage performance, recording his fifth career hat trick. It was the kind of game that reminded everyone just how dangerous he can be when he finds his rhythm. His last three-goal outing came back in March 2022 with the Islanders, but Sunday looked like he hadn’t missed a beat.
By the time Nelson completed the hat trick to make it 4-0, the game was essentially out of reach. Toronto managed to spoil the shutout late with a power-play goal, but that didn’t take away from what was a dominant bounce-back effort from Colorado.
Blackwood Shuts the Door
At the other end of the ice, MacKenzie Blackwood was dialed in - and that’s putting it lightly. After giving up 11 goals over his previous two starts, including six against the Flyers, Blackwood needed a game like this. He delivered with 32 saves, including a jaw-dropping stop on Auston Matthews that might just end up on the season highlight reel.
That save alone was a game-changer. Matthews had a golden opportunity, and Blackwood flat-out robbed him.
It was the kind of moment that can swing momentum and energize a bench - and it did just that. Blackwood looked calm, composed, and confident, and that’s a huge sign for the Avalanche moving forward.
This wasn’t just a win - it was a reset. A reminder of what this team looks like when they’re clicking in all three zones.
Landeskog Progressing, Olympic Goal in Sight
Meanwhile, there’s some cautious optimism surrounding captain Gabriel Landeskog. He’s been out since a hard crash into the net against the Florida Panthers on January 4, which left him with a rib injury. While the injury hasn’t been classified as serious, it’s lingered long enough to keep him off the ice for game action.
According to head coach Jared Bednar, Landeskog is ramping things up. He’s back in the gym, starting to skate again, and slowly working through the soreness. The timing here is key - with the Olympics just two weeks away, Landeskog is eyeing a return to represent Team Sweden in Milano-Cortina.
Bednar didn’t commit to a timeline, but the implication is clear: the Avalanche may not see their captain suit up again until after the Olympic break. That puts Colorado in a bit of a holding pattern. Landeskog’s leadership and presence are huge, and while they’d love to have him back in the lineup, there’s also an understanding of what playing on the international stage means to him - and what it might do for his confidence and conditioning.
What’s Next
The Avalanche continue their East Coast swing on Wednesday with a matchup against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. It’s another chance to build off the momentum they generated in Toronto and continue tightening things up as the season grinds toward the stretch run.
Yes, the last 10 games have been uneven. But Sunday showed us something important: this team still knows how to respond when the pressure’s on. And with Blackwood finding his form and Nelson heating up, the Avs are still very much a team to watch - and one that no opponent should take lightly.