The Colorado Avalanche are heading into the Olympic break on a sour note, dropping both games of a back-to-back road set, capped off by a 7-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. If fans were hoping for a bounce-back effort after a flat performance in Ottawa, they didn’t get it. Instead, the Avs looked like a team already thinking about the break, not one gearing up for a playoff push.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a bad night-it was a game where the Avalanche never really found their footing. From the opening puck drop, Montreal dictated the pace, and Colorado never seriously threatened to take control.
Wedgewood Struggles in Return
Scott Wedgewood was back in net for the first time since January 21-and also his first start since the birth of his second child-but this outing won’t be one he’ll want to remember. The Canadiens opened the scoring less than a minute into the game, with Noah Dobson finding the back of the net after Montreal won the faceoff and took advantage of a slow read from Wedgewood.
Rebound control was a major issue all night. There were missed reads behind the net, misplays around the post, and overall, it just wasn’t the sharpest version of Wedgewood we’ve seen this season. Jake Evans and Kirby Dach both scored on plays that highlighted those lapses, including a goal from behind the goal line that slipped in after Wedgewood failed to seal the near-side post.
Early Hole, No Climb Out
After Dobson’s opening goal, Brock Nelson briefly gave the Avs life with a quick response three minutes later. But that momentum vanished just as quickly, with Nick Suzuki scoring on the power play and then again shorthanded to put Montreal up 3-1 by the end of the first.
By the time Jake Evans made it 4-1 and Dach followed with his behind-the-net tally, the game was starting to feel out of reach. Joel Kiviranta added one to cut the deficit, and the Avs managed to claw it back to 5-3 by the end of the second. But any hopes of a third-period rally were dashed when Montreal tacked on two more-goals from Alexandre Carrier and Juraj Slafkovsky-to seal the win.
Colton Returns, Finds the Net
One of the few bright spots for Colorado came from Ross Colton, who returned to the lineup after missing time with a lower-body injury. Colton hadn’t scored since November 26 against San Jose, but he made his presence felt in his first game back, finding the back of the net and showing flashes of the offensive instincts the Avs will need down the stretch.
Before his injury, Colton didn’t look out of sync, but it was clear he was playing through something. Now, with a goal under his belt and some time to rest over the break, this could be the start of a much-needed resurgence.
Makar Scratched, Lineup Shuffles
Another notable lineup move: Taylor Makar was a healthy scratch, while Colton took his spot. With the Avs struggling to find consistency, head coach Jared Bednar is clearly still trying to find the right mix heading into the stretch run.
What’s Next?
There’s no sugarcoating this one. The Avs didn’t just lose-they looked disengaged. With one more game before the Olympic break, a Saturday matchup in Detroit, the challenge is clear: regroup, reset, and show some urgency.
Because if this team wants to be taken seriously as a contender, the effort level has to match the talent. And right now, that gap is wider than it should be.