The Colorado Avalanche are wrapping up their longest homestand of the season-a seven-game stretch at Ball Arena that’s provided more than just points in the standings. With a 3-1-2 record heading into Friday’s finale against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Avs have shown why they’re one of the league’s top teams at home, and why they’re just as dangerous on the road.
But this homestand has offered more than just hockey. It’s been a rare window of stability in the relentless rhythm of the NHL calendar-a chance for players to reset, recharge, and reconnect with their families.
For Victor Olofsson, whose wife is expecting their second child, 17 days at home has been a welcome pause. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood was even able to be present for the birth of his second child on Thursday.
These are the kind of moments that don’t show up on a scoresheet but matter just as much to the athletes living this grind.
Martin Necas, who recently celebrated his birthday with family in town, echoed that sentiment. After years of bouncing between games in Carolina, the extended time in Colorado has given him a chance to share his new home with those closest to him.
“Nice to have my family here, show them around,” he said. “It doesn’t really happen too often that you’re this long at home, which was nice for us.”
Still, the Avalanche know the comfort of home can’t last forever. After Friday’s matchup with the Flyers, they’ll hit the road for an eight-day trip that promises to be a grind.
Head coach Jared Bednar isn’t sugarcoating it: “It’s going to be freezing cold and three feet of snow on the East Coast…” he said, painting a vivid picture of what lies ahead. “This can be a difficult road trip because we finish at three in four.
Lot of travel, unpredictable weather, against teams that are going to be important games for these teams going into the break.”
And it’s not just the weather that’s challenging. The Avs are still dealing with a string of injuries that have tested their depth.
Joel Kiviranta is expected to return against Philadelphia after missing 10 games, but Devon Toews and Gabriel Landeskog remain sidelined. To make matters worse, Ross Colton picked up an injury in Wednesday’s 2-1 shootout loss to Anaheim and is currently day-to-day.
Despite the adversity, Bednar is keeping perspective. “We have a chance to go win tonight and go four, one and two on a homestand with a depleted lineup,” he said.
“It’s been good for our rehab guys, for the guys who have been banged up a little bit. And also to try and get the most energy we can out of our team, sleeping in their own beds, and getting some rest.”
That rest might be the most valuable part of this homestand. In a league where the margin between winning and losing is razor-thin, even a few days of normalcy can be a difference-maker. The Avalanche have made the most of this stretch-not just in terms of points, but in building the kind of resilience and chemistry that pays off when the games get tougher and the stakes get higher.
Now, it’s back to the grind. The road won’t be easy, but the Avs have shown they’re built for more than just home-ice success.