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Colorado Avalanche: 4 Questions for the Post-Break Road Trip

By Nadia Archuleta

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 22: Nathan McKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a first period goal with teammates on the bench against the Philadelphia Flyers on October 22, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 22: Nathan McKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a first period goal with teammates on the bench against the Philadelphia Flyers on October 22, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Colorado Avalanche need to answer some important questions during their five-game road trip after their 11-day bye week.

The Colorado Avalanche start back after their long break with a five-game road trip. They’ve already got two practices under their belt, and they’re likely off to Philadelphia for the first road game.

Colorado enters the roadie second in the Central Division. This is an important trip for them, and one that won’t be easy. However, the Avs have performed well on the road this season, going 14-8-2 so far.

Well, let’s look at some questions for the important road trip.

Are They Rusty?

The Colorado Avalanche haven’t played since their January 20th victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Once they step on the ice in Philadelphia, they’ll have been off for 11 days.

That’s a really long break. Avs insider Adrian Dater asked the players about their bye-week plans, and Ryan Graves stated he was sure they all planned on working out during that time. However, working out isn’t the same as game action or even regular practices.

Are the Avs going to show some rust? I imagine so. Will it be enough to cost them a game they should win against a Flyers team struggling to make the playoffs — and in a barn Colorado has historically played well in? Let’s hope not.

Can the Colorado Avalanche Get Good Goal Tending?

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This has been a question since the beginning of the season. The goal tending tandem of Philipp Grubauer and Pavel Francouz has been shaky at times.

I feel like this roadie and the five-game home stand that follows will be imperative for the tandem. If they don’t perform the way the front offices think will get them deep into the playoffs, I wouldn’t be surprised to see GM Joe Sakic hunting around for a goalie around the February 24 trade deadline.

What Will a Healthy Avalanche Look Like?

Starting on this road trip, the Colorado Avalanche are minus only one player really — Colin Wilson, who’s on injured reserve. Joonas Donskoi has been practicing in a regular sweater after suffering a concussion in the New York Rangers game on January 7.

So, what will a truly healthy Avalanche look like? Hopefully better than it did when other injured players started returning in mid December. For a while there it looked like they were a better team when injured than when healthy.

Have the Special Teams Improved?

It’s going to be hard for the special teams to have improved with such a long break. However, we need them to.

The Colorado Avalanche are #22 in the NHL for the power play with an 18.6% conversion and #20 on the penalty kill with a rate of 79%.

The team needs to be better than that to challenge for home ice advantage. They’re built to be better on both special teams. Is it just a matter of coaching? We shall see.

MacKinnon Sportsperson of the Year for MH Sports. dark. Next

The Colorado Avalanche play their first game of the road trip in Philadelphia against the Flyers. They’ll also face the Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Minnesota Wild.

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