The 2025-26 season has gotten off to such a weird start. Nearly two months into the season and the majority of the league is clearly in the playoff picture. Entering Dec. 3, first place and seventh place in the Metropolitan Division is separated by just four points. Even though there are 28 teams or so firmly in the playoff picture, none of them are close to the Colorado Avalanche.
On Tuesday night, the Avalanche defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 behind two goals from superstar Nathan MacKinnon. Now, the Avalanche have their 19th win of the season and 44 points through their first 26 games played. That's truly impressive. Perhaps what's most impressive is that they only have one regulation loss in that span. All but one of their seven losses occurred in overtime, so the Avalanche still got at least a point in 25 games.
Currently, the Avalanche are chasing history. Their 26 games with just one regulation loss is the second-longest streak in NHL history. The longest streak belongs to the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers, who went 37 games with just one regulation loss.
MOST POINTS THROUGH 26 GP
— Brendan McNicholas (@bmcnich) December 3, 2025
45 – SJS 2008-09 (22-3-1)
44 – COL 2025-26 (19-1-6)
44 – BOS 1929-30 (22-4-0)
44 – DET 2001-02 (21-3-1-1)
LONGEST INTO SEASON WITH 1 REG. LOSS
37 GP – 1979-80 PHI (26-1-10)
26 GP – 2025-26 COL (19-1-6)
25 GP – 2012-13 CHI (21-1-3)
Avalanche on verge of breaking Flyers' decades-long record
Just think about the rare territory this iteration of the Avalanche is in. They just passed the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks, who had a 25 game streak with just one regulation loss. Of course, that was the year the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in the lockout-shortened season. The Avalanche still have 11 more games to go to tie the 1979-80 Flyers', who made it to the Stanley Cup Finals that year, where they lost in six games to the New York Islanders.
For those wondering, here is what the Avalanche's next 12 games look like as they make an effort to tie and break the Flyers' record:
Colorado Avalanche upcoming schedule for December
Date | Opponent |
|---|---|
Thursday, Dec. 4 | at New York Islanders |
Saturday, Dec. 6 | at New York Rangers |
Sunday, Dec. 7 | at Philadelphia Flyers |
Tuesday, Dec. 9 | at Nashville Predators |
Thursday, Dec. 11 | vs. Florida Panthers |
Saturday, Dec. 13 | vs. Nashville Predators |
Tuesday, Dec. 16 | at Seattle Kraken |
Friday, Dec. 19 | vs. Winnipeg Jets |
Sunday, Dec. 21 | at Minnesota Wild |
Tuesday, Dec. 23 | vs. Utah Mammoth |
Saturday, Dec. 27 | at Vegas Golden Knights |
Monday, Dec. 29 | vs. Los Angeles Kings |
It isn't the easiest stretch for the Avalanche. The Islanders have been one of the biggest surprises of the year. The Wild have incredible goaltending from Jesper Wallstedt. The Golden Knights have the star power. There are some winnable games on paper, especially their two against the Predators.
Regardless, you can't count out the Avalanche, given the numbers this year. After Tuesday night's game against the Canucks, the Avalanche are outscoring opponents 37-9 in even-strength situations when MacKinnon is on the ice. Offensively, Colorado is averaging 4.08 goals scored per game, the best in all of hockey. Defensively, they're allowing 2.04 goals per game, again the best average in the NHL. The goaltending duo of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood are both thriving in their first full seasons with the team. Everything is working in Colorado's favor.
The Avalanche still have a way to go, but they are getting closer to make NHL history.