The Colorado Avalanche are about to get a much better idea of just how good they really are.
The Avalanche opened the season with two home games and made the most of the relatively light schedule. The Avs pounded the Los Angeles Kings 8-4 before dismantling the St. Louis Blues 6-1. Colorado has scored 14 goals through two games while allowing only five.
That looks fantastic regardless of any sloppy play. Now, comes the real test.
The Avalanche will play three games in four nights, beginning Wednesday against division rival the Winnipeg Jets, followed by the reeling Calgary Flames on Thursday, and the suddenly surging Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
That is a completely different challenge.
Both Winnipeg and Toronto should provide a much tougher examination of Colorado’s talent, as compared to the first two matchups. The Jets have also come flying out strong, registering a 2-0-1 mark, including wins over the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Red Wings.
That raises an obvious question.
Can Winnipeg knock off a serious contender like the Avalanche?
They’ll certainly want to show that they can.
And while the Calgary Flames may look like an “easy” game, the Maple Leafs are riding high after an entertaining 5-4 comeback win over the Nashville Predators.
For a veteran team like Colorado, this early-season test should serve as a gauge of its championship aspirations.
The Avalanche Have a Lineup Decision Coming
The other major storyline will be what Colorado does with its lineup if Logan O'Connor or Zachary L'Heureux is ready to return.
Both forwards are getting closer to making their season debuts, with Jared Bednar saying he would like to see both play during the current road trip.
Getting either one back would give the Avalanche more depth up front.
Getting both back could create a genuine lineup dilemma.
Colorado has dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen through its first two games, and it has worked remarkably well. The Avalanche are 2-0, have scored 14 goals and have received contributions throughout the lineup.
So why change it?
That is the question Bednar has to answer.
O'Connor would certainly give Colorado another valuable penalty killer and a player capable of providing energy and forechecking pressure. L'Heureux brings size, physicality and another legitimate bottom-six option.
But someone has to come out.
T.J. Hughes has earned his opportunity after an excellent training camp. Fedor Svechkov has looked comfortable in his bottom-six role. Parker Kelly provides valuable defensive and penalty-killing work, while Nicolas Roy has already contributed offensively.
There is no obvious player who deserves to lose his spot.
That makes the decision even more interesting.
For now, the 11-forward, seven-defenseman setup is working. There is little incentive to tinker with something that has produced a great start and a plus-nine goal differential.
But the next three games could change that calculation.
The Avalanche are going to need depth during this brutal stretch, and having another healthy forward available could help Bednar manage his veterans' workloads.
At the same time, Colorado does not want to sacrifice a lineup combination that is already clicking simply because healthier players are becoming available.
That is a very good problem to have.
The Avalanche have started the season exactly as they wanted.
Now they get to find out whether they can keep doing it against better competition and a Winnipeg team that will be looking to show they belong in the same conversation as Colorado.
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