After cruising through much of the season with the kind of consistency that turns contenders into Cup favorites, the Colorado Avalanche find themselves in a rare mini-slump. Back-to-back losses-just their second such skid of the season-have momentarily cooled the momentum in Denver.
An overtime loss to the Maple Leafs on Monday was followed by a 7-3 defeat in Nashville on Friday. But let’s be clear: that final score is a bit deceptive.
Two of those goals were empty-netters. Strip those away, and it was a 5-3 game that still stings, but doesn’t look quite as lopsided.
A Rare Home Setback
Friday’s loss also marked something that hadn’t happened all season: a regulation defeat at Ball Arena. It took 23 home games for the Avalanche to finally fall in 60 minutes on their own ice.
That’s a testament to just how dominant they’ve been in Denver. Even with the loss, they’re sitting at 19-1-3 at home-a record most teams would kill for.
And it took a special performance to hand them that first regulation home loss. Former Avs center Ryan O’Reilly dropped a hat trick on his old squad, reminding fans in Colorado just how dangerous he can still be.
But even with that, there’s no reason to hit the panic button. Every team hits a bump or two during the grind of an 82-game season.
The key is how you respond-and the Avalanche have shown all year that they’re built to bounce back.
Central Division: Everyone’s Hitting the Brakes
If there’s a silver lining to Colorado’s recent stumble, it’s that they’re not the only ones dealing with turbulence. The Dallas Stars have dropped two straight, and the Minnesota Wild are in the middle of a three-game slide.
So while the Avs have missed a chance to pad their lead, their closest challengers haven’t taken advantage either. The top of the Central is wobbling, and that keeps the race tight but manageable for Colorado.
Rangers Retooling, Avs Watching
Meanwhile, out East, the New York Rangers have made it official-they’re heading into a retool. GM Chris Drury didn’t mince words in his open letter to fans, signaling that changes are coming. That’s caught the attention of teams across the league, including the Avalanche, who could be eyeing some of the talent that might shake loose in a Rangers sell-off.
One name to keep tabs on: Artemi Panarin. The star winger is reportedly on Colorado’s radar, and while he won’t come cheap, he fits the mold of the kind of high-impact acquisition that could push the Avs over the top. Adding a player of Panarin’s caliber would be a bold move-and one that signals a team going all-in on a Stanley Cup run.
Jets Heating Up-Just in Time for March Matchups
At the other end of the Central Division, the Winnipeg Jets are starting to show signs of life. After an 11-game losing streak sent them spiraling to the bottom of the standings, they’ve now rattled off four straight wins. That’s not enough to vault them into playoff contention just yet, but it does make them a team to watch-especially for Colorado.
The Avs have only faced Winnipeg once this season, a 3-2 win back on December 19. But the two teams will meet three more times in March, including back-to-back games on the 26th and 28th. By then, the Jets could be playing the role of spoiler-a dangerous opponent with nothing to lose and something to prove.
Looking Ahead
The Avalanche have the weekend off, which might be just what they need to reset and recharge. They’ll be back on the ice Monday against the Washington Capitals, kicking off a busy stretch with three home games on the schedule.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about this team, it’s that they don’t stay down for long. This upcoming homestand gives them a prime opportunity to get back on track-and remind the rest of the league why they’ve been one of the most consistent forces all season.