The Colorado Avalanche have the firepower to overwhelm anyone on any given night. But there are some issues to address, nonetheless.
The Avs certainly have plenty of reasons to feel good about their start to the 2026-27 season. They are scoring at an elite rate, getting production throughout the lineup and have several players finding their stride.
But Tuesday's 7-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets was a reminder that the club is far from a finished product. And head coach Jared Bednar needs to do something about it.
Colorado entered the game coming off a 5-2 comeback victory over Chicago, extending its winning streak to three games. Instead of carrying that momentum into Columbus, the Avalanche surrendered seven goals and struggled to get much out of either goaltender.
It's one game, of course. But there are a few developing storylines worth watching as the Avalanche try to establish some consistency.
Avalanche need more consistency from their goaltending
The most obvious concern coming out of Tuesday's loss is the situation in net.
Scott Wedgewood was pulled after allowing four goals on nine shots, while Mackenzie Blackwood gave up three more after taking over midway through the second period. Neither goalie had much success against Columbus, but the performance was particularly concerning for Wedgewood.
He has gone winless in his last four appearances, posting a 4.31 goals-against average and .858 save percentage over that stretch. Blackwood, meanwhile, has been considerably more reliable, going 8-3-0 through his first 12 appearances with a 2.80 GAA.
That has made the division of labor increasingly clear. Blackwood is establishing himself as Colorado's No. 1 option, and the Avalanche will need him to maintain that level if they want to make another deep postseason run.
Still, they cannot afford to have Wedgewood become a nightly question mark. Colorado has too much offensive talent to waste games because it cannot get dependable goaltending.
Colorado's offensive depth is a strength, but the defense needs to step up
The encouraging part is that Colorado continues to get contributions from more than just its biggest stars.
Nazem Kadri and Jaden Schwartz each scored twice against Chicago, while Devon Toews has put together a five-game point streak. Artturi Lehkonen has also been among the team's most productive forwards, giving the Avalanche another reliable offensive option alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas.
Cale Makar is doing Cale Makar things, too. He has 18 points through 15 games, including a goal and six assists during his current three-game point streak.
The numbers tell an interesting story. Colorado is averaging 4.10 goals per game, the best mark in the NHL, but its 3.23 goals against per game ranks 19th. Its power play has also been relatively ordinary, operating at 21.2 percent.
That gap is worth watching. The Avalanche can overwhelm opponents offensively, but they cannot expect to outscore every defensive mistake, particularly against stronger teams.
Josh Manson's absence with an ankle injury is another issue to keep in mind. He is expected to miss approximately eight weeks, leaving Colorado without an important physical presence on the back end. Zachary L'Heureux is also sidelined with an upper-body injury.
There is no reason to panic after one ugly result in Columbus. But the next step is making sure that offensive firepower is supported by more consistent defending and goaltending. Otherwise, Colorado could find itself having to win too many games the hard way.
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