The Colorado Avalanche are in the middle of a rough patch - and their latest loss in Ottawa only added to the growing concerns. While there was some good news off the ice this week with defenseman Sam Malinski locking in a contract extension, the on-ice product is telling a different story.
The Avs dropped another one, this time falling 5-2 to the Senators, and the issues are starting to pile up. Let’s break down what stood out - and why Colorado might be entering a critical stretch of their season.
Blackwood’s Struggles Continue
Mackenzie Blackwood’s recent performances have raised some eyebrows - and not in a good way. For the third time in his last four starts, he just didn’t have it.
The Avalanche have leaned on strong goaltending all season, with Scott Wedgewood even playing himself into the Vezina conversation as a backup-turned-reliable option. But Blackwood’s recent form has been shaky at best.
Outside of a solid 32-save outing against Toronto on Jan. 25, Blackwood has allowed 14 goals on 68 shots in his other three most recent starts.
That’s a save percentage south of .800 - a number that simply won’t cut it, especially for a team with postseason aspirations. Against Ottawa, he was beaten cleanly on several chances, and while every netminder hits a rough patch now and then, it’s fair to wonder if lingering injury issues might be playing a role here.
A Flat-Out Flat Performance
But let’s not pin this one solely on the goaltender. This was, by all accounts, one of Colorado’s most uninspired efforts of the season.
The Avalanche looked disconnected, slow, and oddly passive - all adjectives that rarely apply to this high-octane group. Through two periods, they managed just eight shots on goal.
Eight. Yet somehow, they were still within striking distance heading into the third.
That speaks to the sheer talent on this roster - even when they’re off, they’re still capable of hanging around. But moral victories don’t mean much in the standings.
This was a game where the Avalanche just didn’t look like themselves. No jump, no rhythm, and very little urgency.
It’s the kind of performance you hope is an outlier, not a trend.
Necas Cooling Off
Martin Necas has been a bright spot for much of the season, but lately, the production has dipped. Over his last four games, he’s been held off the scoresheet three times, with a minus-three rating during that span. The lone exception was a two-assist night against the Flyers - a reminder of the kind of impact he can have when he’s on.
This isn’t a full-blown slump, but it’s worth monitoring. Especially when you consider how important Necas is to Colorado’s top-six forward group.
With Brock Nelson continuing to deliver and the line of Nelson, Valeri Nichushkin, and Artturi Lehkonen clicking, there’s not much room to shuffle things around to help Necas find his groove. The Avalanche need him to push through this cold stretch and get back to driving play with the consistency he’s shown for most of the year.
A Worrying Trend
Zoom out, and the bigger picture isn’t exactly comforting. The Avalanche have now dropped five of their last seven and are just 4-5-1 over their last 10. That’s not panic-button territory just yet - they’ve still got a nine-point cushion over Minnesota and games in hand - but the margin for error is shrinking.
Injuries have clearly taken a toll, and the team hasn’t looked like the same confident, structured group that opened the season with a flourish. The good news?
There’s time. The Avalanche built themselves a buffer with their early-season success, and they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt.
But the clock is ticking. If they want to reestablish themselves as a true contender, the turnaround needs to start soon.
The pieces are still there - the talent, the depth, the goaltending (when healthy). But right now, something’s missing. Whether it’s energy, execution, or just rhythm, the Avalanche need to find it - and fast.