Colorado Avalanche Need to Shore-up the Third Period

The Colorado Avalanche lost another game in the third period on Saturday night, and it’s starting to become a big issue for the club.

The Colorado Avalanche took a 2-1 lead into the third period against the Jets on Saturday night, and once again surrendered the game without even getting it to overtime.

Losing in the third period when the team has a lead is absolutely unacceptable, particularly when it’s a habit for the team.

Unfortunately for the Colorado Avalanche, it’s more than a habit, it almost seems commonplace.

How Bad Is It?

It’s pretty bad…

In fact, the Colorado Avalanche have 73 goals against in the third period, and 61 goals for, so they’re being outscored in the third period — the most crucial period of the game — by a wide margin.

The Avalanche have also allowed at least one third period goal in 43 out of the 70 games that they have played this season.

Unfortunately, they have also allowed 3 or more goals in the third period seven times this season, allowing four goals in three separate games. Atrocious.

It can get worse though folks…

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Out of the 31 regulation losses that the Colorado Avalanche have this season, seven have come when they have gone into the third with a lead and lost. They have also gone into the third tied five times and lost.

So, 12 out of their 31 regulation losses could have logically at least rendered a point, and those stats don’t include the games where they were only down by one goal going into the third.

Finally, in the last seven games, the Avalanche have gone into the third period tied or with a lead four times, and ended up losing in regulation.

The third period collapse has been an issue all season, but especially of late. The reality is that the loser point is crucial to success in this league, and the Avalanche have not received enough loser points this season.

Missing Out on the Loser Point

The Colorado Avalanche have only taken six games into overtime when they have been in the lead or tied going into the third period. In their 18 games where they have either lost, or gone to OT when being tied or leading after two, the Avs are 3-12-3.

They’ve won 31 of their 35 games when leading or being tied after two, but they’ve also lost an alarming 15 games in regulation or OT when leading or being tied after two periods.

The Colorado Avalanche have the lowest amount of overtime losses in the entire NHL with just four. That would be an amazing stat if they had the regulation wins to back it up, but they keep losing in regulation before they can get the game to overtime.

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They have only gone into extra time nine times this entire season, in which their record is obviously 5-4 — with a couple shootout wins of course.

The NHL average is 16 overtime games at this point in the season. The Winnipeg Jets — ironically enough — are the only other team in the NHL with under 10 overtime appearances; they have nine as well.

Luckily, the Colorado Avalanche currently own the ROW record between them and Minnesota, so if it comes down to points, then the Colorado Avalanche will take the wild card spot.

Conclusion

Well, obviously the Avalanche either need to start holding onto games in the third period, and make sure that they win, or they at least need to start getting the game to overtime.

Overtime should be a friend to the Colorado Avalanche as well because they have a lot of speed, and a lot of extra room on the ice to use that speed.

Next: Colorado Avalanche Need to Stop Collapsing

Their schedule is tough down the stretch, so they’ll need to make sure that they at least get games into overtime, or that they are able to shut down their tough opponents in the third period.

This playoff stretch is certainly exciting, but it can also be frustrating for fans and for players, and it may ultimately be disappointing if the Colorado Avalanche are not able to pick up their play in the third period.