Colorado Avalanche Road Trip: 5 Keys to Success

Feb 6, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene (9) screens ]Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason (35) during the first period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Avalanche road trip needs to be a rousing success.

As center Matt Duchene pointed out recently, the Colorado Avalanche are fighting for their very lives. It’s the latest of Dutchyisms, and it reminded me of an old Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode. Just before going into battle, a soldier from a strange race of creatures made the following declaration:

"“I am First Omet’iklan, and I am dead. As of this moment, we are all dead. We go into battle to reclaim our lives. This we do gladly, for we are Jem’Hadar. Remember: Victory is life.”"

That is the state of the Colorado Avalanche season right now. It’s dead in the water. Every night from here on out the players need to go out onto the ice to reclaim their lives.

It starts with this Colorado Avalanche road trip. They have seven games in 14 days. It’s the most ambitious road trip in Avalanche history and matches a seven-game roadie in 2009.

Head coach Patrick Roy mentioned in a press conference that he generally wanted to see the team earn nine points in seven games. That might quiet some naysayers and allow the players to lift their heads up again.

However, Colorado is currently nine points out of a Wild Card spot for the playoffs. Coach Roy has also mentioned the need for the Avalanche to play perfectly in certain instances. That instance is now.

The Avalanche are dead. They need success on this roadie to reclaim their lives.

Next: Fire it Up