The Colorado Avalanche have been searching for a spark on this road trip-and on Saturday afternoon, they found it in emphatic fashion.
In a nationally televised statement game, Colorado steamrolled the Detroit Red Wings 5-0, snapping out of a rare slump with the kind of dominant performance that’s become their calling card this season. After dropping back-to-back games to Montreal and Ottawa in ugly fashion, the Avs came into Detroit with something to prove. Mission accomplished.
Nathan MacKinnon led the charge, as he so often does. The Avalanche superstar scored twice and came inches away from a hat trick late in the second period.
With those two goals, MacKinnon became the first player in the league to hit the 40-goal mark this season-a milestone no player from Colorado (or the franchise's Quebec days) had ever reached this early in a campaign. He’s not just leading the charge-he’s setting the pace for the entire league.
And while MacKinnon was filling the net, Mackenzie Blackwood was shutting the door. The Avalanche goaltender turned aside all 27 shots he faced, earning the shutout and looking locked in from the opening faceoff.
His rebound control was sharp, his positioning sound, and his confidence contagious. On a day when Colorado needed a complete performance, Blackwood delivered exactly that between the pipes.
The supporting cast showed up, too. Brent Burns, Ross Colton, and Parker Kelly each found the back of the net, giving Colorado contributions up and down the lineup. That kind of depth scoring is what separates contenders from pretenders, and the Avalanche reminded everyone why they belong in the former category.
Coming into the game, Colorado had hit a surprising rough patch-just 2-4-2 in their last eight games. For a team that’s been one of the NHL’s most consistent forces all season, it was an uncharacteristic stumble.
But Saturday felt like a course correction. The speed was back.
The puck movement was crisp. The forecheck was relentless.
And most importantly, the swagger returned.
With the win, the Avalanche improved to 36-8-9 and became the first team in the league to eclipse the 80-point mark. That’s not just impressive-that’s elite territory. And with Detroit heading to Ball Arena on Monday for the back half of this home-and-home, followed by a visit from the Sharks on Wednesday, Colorado has a golden opportunity to build even more momentum heading into the Olympic break.
Speaking of the Olympics, several of Colorado’s stars will soon be swapping their Avs sweaters for national colors as they chase gold in Italy. But before they go, they sent a clear message to the rest of the NHL: this team hasn’t gone anywhere. If anything, they’re just getting warmed up.
Saturday’s performance was a reminder of what the Avalanche look like at full throttle-fast, skilled, and downright overwhelming. And if that version of Colorado shows up in the postseason, the rest of the league better be ready. Because the Avs aren’t just chasing wins-they’re chasing another Cup.