The Colorado Avalanche’s last two games have looked nothing like the team fans are used to seeing. They’ve been slow, flat and stuck chasing for long stretches, and head coach Jared Bednar said they’re going to need to do some soul-searching.
That’s the backdrop after a rough two-game road trip, and the bigger issue isn’t simply that Colorado lost both games. It’s how they lost them.
The first period has suddenly become the problem. Not long ago, the Avalanche were dealing with trouble in the middle frame after giving up three goals on four shots to the Toronto Maple Leafs and three more to the Los Angeles Kings.
Now the starts are the sore spot. Colorado gave up two goals to the Pittsburgh Penguins before getting going, then surrendered the first goal in both Philadelphia and New Jersey while being outshot 28-12 combined in those opening periods.
Nathan MacKinnon’s quiet stretch stood out too. He went consecutive games without a point for the first time since Jan. 4-6 last season, failing to show up on the scoresheet in either of the last two games.
Faceoffs have also become a real issue. Against the Devils, the Avalanche won only 20 draws and lost 37.
There’s always room for debate about how much faceoff numbers matter, but when Colorado is winning just 35% of its draws, that’s a problem. It’s part of why they’ve spent so much time on the back foot.
Nazem Kadri’s drought is getting hard to ignore as well. He keeps getting heavy minutes - more than 20 a night from Bednar - and he’s earned that usage, but the finish still hasn’t come. At some point, it feels like one of those chances has to go in.
The Devils game also produced a startling shot total. Before Tuesday, Colorado hadn’t allowed 40 or more shots on goal in a game since Dec. 12, and before that it had happened only one other time since the start of the 2024-25 season.
That’s basically one game per season where the Avalanche are giving up that many shots. That’s a wild number.
Even in the middle of all the frustration, Cale Makar had a moment worth appreciating on Colorado’s first goal in New Jersey. That play was exceptional.
The record, at least on paper, doesn’t look disastrous. Colorado is 5-4-1 through 10 games, which is just above .500, and it has still played more good games than bad ones. Before this three-game run against Eastern Conference teams, the Avalanche turned in two strong performances against the Dallas Stars.
Bednar has long talked about slicing the season into 10-game blocks and wanting six or more wins in each one. Colorado didn’t get there this time, but there’s plenty of runway left.
The power play hasn’t solved itself yet, and the way the Avalanche lost control in these last two games makes the stretch feel heavier than the record suggests. Still, there’s room to reset.
For context, Colorado went 5-1-4 in its first 10 games last season before finishing with 55 wins and the Presidents’ Trophy.
The missing bodies matter here too, especially with the Avalanche down a 12th forward. Nic Roy’s absence has been felt in particular.
He’s one of the more underrated pieces on the roster, the kind of player who can fill almost any role and skate on any line. Losing that kind of versatility hurts.
So does Logan O’Connor being out, though that changes Friday when Colorado returns to action.
Once O’Connor and Roy are both back, one possible look would be the kind of lineup setup written about in August: T.J. Hughes on the second line with Brock Nelson and Gabe Landeskog, while Kadri centers a third line with Jaden Schwartz and Roy.
In Other News...
Avalanche Suddenly Have An Early Problem Fans Cant Ignore
The early signs of a stumble are hard to miss for a Colorado team that entered the night expecting a cleaner response after its first loss. Instead, the Avalanche dropped another game, this time to the Devils, and the bigger concern was less the final result than the way it came together. Shot volume never tilted in their favor, and the power play came up empty again even as the penalty kill handled its lone test.
Colorado has only been into the season a short time, which makes the current dip stand out even more. A team with this much talent can usually rely on pace and special teams to steady things when the five-on-five game gets messy, but neither showed up consistently here. If the Avalanche are going to avoid turning a small slowdown into something more noticeable, those areas need to sharpen up quickly. [Read more 🡒]
T.J. Hughes Is Forcing A Tough Avalanche Roster Decision
T.J. Hughes picked a good night to make his mark, scoring his first NHL goal with help from Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon. It was the kind of moment that can change the tone around a young player quickly, especially on a team that leans so heavily on established stars and expects newcomers to fit into a very specific system.
Hughes has also started to complicate the Avalanches roster math because of the way he has looked on the power-play unit, where familiarity and shot orientation matter more than just raw skill. With Logan OConnor working his way back and contract considerations affecting other players in the mix, Colorado suddenly has a real decision to make about how much runway Hughes gets and whether his place in the lineup can survive once everyone is healthy. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Escape Brutal Start Thanks To Two Timely Responses
The Avalanche had every reason to be in a hole early against New Jersey, but Gabe Landeskog gave them a much-needed lifeline with a late first-period goal that pulled the game even at 1-1. Colorado spent most of the opening frame under pressure, getting outshot 14-4, yet Scott Wedgewood helped keep the damage to a minimum with a string of key saves.
For a team that was chasing the pace from the opening puck drop, simply reaching the intermission tied felt like a small victory. The Devils were carrying the play and dictating much of the action, but Colorado at least found a way to answer before the period ended, leaving the game level and the Avalanche still within striking distance after a rough start. [Read more 🡒]