The Colorado Avalanche rolled into Ottawa riding high after a statement win over the Maple Leafs, powered by a Brock Nelson hat trick. But whatever momentum they brought with them from Toronto didn’t make it past the first period at Canadian Tire Centre. The Avalanche dropped this one to the Senators, 5-2, in a game where they never really found their footing.
First Period: Avalanche on Their Heels Early
From the opening faceoff, Ottawa dictated the pace. The Senators came out flying, pinning Colorado in its own zone for most of the period.
The Avalanche struggled to generate any sustained offensive pressure, and the shot totals told the story-Ottawa outshot Colorado 14-4 in the opening frame. Mackenzie Blackwood was busy early, and without his steady presence in net, this game could’ve gotten away from the Avs even sooner.
Second Period: A Glimmer, Then a Gut Punch
The scoring opened in the second, and it was Ottawa who broke through first. Nick Cousins got behind the Avalanche defense and managed to sneak one past Blackwood to give the Senators a 1-0 lead. It was a breakdown in coverage, and the kind of goal that’s tough to swallow when you’re already struggling to gain traction.
To their credit, the Avalanche responded. Parker Kelly capitalized on a costly turnover in the Ottawa zone, jumping on a loose puck and beating James Reimer clean to tie the game at 1-1. It was a much-needed spark, and for a moment, it looked like Colorado might be turning the tide.
But the momentum didn’t last. Less than a minute later, Ridly Greig took advantage of a misplay by Blackwood behind the net to put Ottawa back on top. It was a quick counterpunch and a deflating one for a team trying to claw its way back.
Third Period: Avalanche Can’t Climb the Hill
If there was ever a time for a strong push, it was the third period. But instead of coming out with urgency, the Avalanche found themselves down by two early, courtesy of Claude Giroux. The veteran forward finished off a clean sequence to make it 3-1, and from there, Colorado was chasing.
Valeri Nichushkin did manage to inject some life into the game, scoring his first goal of 2026 off a slick feed from Artturi Lehkonen. The backhand finish made it 3-2 and gave the Avs a fighting chance.
But the comeback bid never materialized. With the goalie pulled late, the Avalanche couldn’t generate enough pressure to find the equalizer. Instead, they gave up a pair of empty-netters-one to Brady Tkachuk and another to Tim Stützle-that sealed the 5-2 final.
Final Thoughts: A Step Back on the Road
This one stings a bit for Colorado, not just because of the scoreline, but because of how the game unfolded. The Avs looked out of sync for long stretches-struggling with puck possession, losing battles along the boards, and failing to establish any rhythm in the offensive zone. When you’re getting outshot 14-4 in the first period, you’re playing catch-up from the jump.
Yes, the Olympic break is looming, and maybe there’s some mental drift happening as players look ahead. But this is still a crucial stretch of the season, and the Avalanche didn’t bring the kind of effort that wins games on the road.
The good news? There’s not much time to dwell.
Colorado is back at it tomorrow against Montreal. It's a quick turnaround and a chance to reset.
If the Avs want to avoid letting this road trip slip away, they’ll need to bring a lot more intensity and execution against the Canadiens.