Avalanche doomed by ‘mental mistakes’ in frustrating loss to Maple Leafs

The Colorado Avalanche seemed out of character during Saturday night’s loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs at Ball Arena.

The 6-3 score wasn’t bad enough. It was the way in which the Avs dropped the game that raised the most questions. Even after former Avalanche Nick Blankenburg stunned the crowd with a goal on his first shift as a Maple Leaf, the game seemed well in hand. Nathan MacKinnon scored twice in the first period and seemed to right the ship.

Even when Brock Nelson made the game 3-2 in the second period, things seemed to be well in hand.

Well, this went south. And coach Jared Bednar offered an explanation.

Following the game, Bednar told reporters that it was the team’s mental mistakes that got in the way of a victory on Saturday night.

“I wasn't disappointed with the number of chances we gave up. I just did not like some of the chances. Like just mental mistakes, that's what it was. Wasn't from lack of effort, lack of try. It was mental mistakes, and when they got their chances, they capitalized on them.”

Indeed those mental mistakes proved costly.

For example, Auston Matthews’ power play goal in the third period started with a shorthanded rush led by Josh Manson. Manson, who isn’t exactly known for his offensive skills, lost the puck to a remarkable defensive play by 18-year-old rookie Gavin McKenna.

Even with three Avalanche sweaters back (kudos to Parker Kelly for getting back in the play), no one could pick up the pass from William Nylander to Matthews.

That was all she wrote. And Bednar made it known without naming names.

“I'm not going to tell you who they are, but we had a couple players that made multiple mental mistakes that led to really good scoring chances against. So for me, it's like you got the team doing it right, and you got a couple guys that weren't there for us tonight and it costs us. I think, again, it's not the number; it's just sort of the quality and the type of breakdown for me could have easily been solved with a little awareness, a little talk, and it wasn't there.”

Something has to change, or so it seems.

The signs have been there for the Avalanche

What happened on Saturday night against Toronto is nothing new. Last Thursday night in Calgary, the Avalanche were cruising, up 6-1 midway through the third period. Then, the Flames scored two quick goals to make the game 6-3. It wasn’t like the Flames were about to pull off a miraculous comeback. However, the two goals did not look good on the ice.

Sure, the Avs put the kibosh on any hopes for Calgary. But the fact that Colorado gave up two goals in about a minute to the worst team in the NHL says a lot about the mental mistakes that Bednar was talking about.

That’s something that needs to change pronto. The Avalanche cannot go on like this and hope to be a serious contender. Yes, it’s still relatively early in the season. But the bottom line is that any team hoping to make the playoffs and go deep needs to play a full 60-minute game.

The Avs will face a real test on Tuesday night as they head to Dallas to take on the Stars. An effort like the one we saw against the Maple Leafs could mean a long night for the Avalanche in Dallas.

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