The Colorado Avalanche devastatingly fell to the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night by a final score of 5-2. It was a close game up until the final moments, when Chicago dumped in two empty net goals. Colorado needed a lot more offense, in my opinion.
Things will not get any easier for the Avalanche for the foreseeable future, especially when you factor in yet another player on the long list of injuries. That player was Ross Colton.
Colton was hit in the foot by a shot, and exited the game. He did not return to action, which was likely a big reason the team couldn’t generate enough offense. After the game, head coach Jared Bednar told reporters that Colton was going to miss some time. It is not much of a surprise that that is the case, given how bad it seemed just watching from the couch.
According to Aarif Deen, Colton left Ball Arena wearing a boot on his foot. That obviously is not the news anyone wants to hear as an Avalanche fan.
Colorado is dealing with a number of missing players, including Jonathan Drouin, Valeri Nichushkin, Arturri Lehkonen, and Gabriel Landeskog. Of course, Nichushkin’s suspension ends in the middle of November. His return to the team should generate a nice boost on the offensive side of things and take the pressure off of some of the fill-ins. Lehkonen is getting close to a return, too.
The Avalanche’s win streak came to an end on Monday. It is not time to panic as an Avalanche fan, as there is plenty of season left to play. The Avalanche need to figure some things out, and some wonder if a trade or two might be in the works at some point. Something needs to be done. The Avalanche need to play better and be better at overcoming injuries. I know it’s easier said than done.
Losing to a last-place Chicago Blackhawks team was not something that I expected. The Avalanche are better than that. It just was not their night.