The Colorado Avalanche need to turn the page on their worst showing of the season on Thursday night. And that process begins against the Nashville Predators at Ball Arena.
The Avs are coming off a total no-show, showing very little if any pushback in their last game.
That’s in the past. Head coach Jared Bednar has vowed changes, so it remains to be seen what those changes could actually be. For the time being, there’s no denying that the biggest issue plaguing the Avs this season has been consistency.
As long as the Avalanche show they are willing to take things one game at a time, that could very well pave the way for a more sustainable approach moving forward this season.
Let’s look at other points heading into the Thursday night’s contest.
Avalanche need to show columbus was an aberration, not a trend
There is no point in sugarcoating what happened against Columbus. Colorado looked flat, offered little resistance and never really gave itself a chance to get back into the game.
But the good news is that this is a veteran team. The Avalanche have been through enough playoff battles and difficult stretches to understand that one bad performance doesn't define a season. What matters now is how they respond.
Bednar has already hinted at changes, but that might not be enough to send a real message. Colorado doesn't need to reinvent itself after one loss. But what it does need to do is get back to the fundamentals that made it the Presidents’ Trophy winners last season.
Thursday offers an immediate opportunity to do that. The Predators are not a team Colorado can afford to overlook, but this is also the kind of matchup in which the Avalanche should expect to dictate the pace.
Goaltending will improve by just playing better in front of the goalies
The conversation surrounding Scott Wedgewood is understandable, but Colorado needs to look beyond the crease.
The Avalanche have been giving up too many high-danger chances, putting their goaltenders in difficult situations far too often. No goalie is going to look particularly comfortable when opponents are consistently getting clean looks from dangerous areas.
MacKenzie Blackwood has generally been the more reliable option, while Wedgewood has had a tougher stretch. But neither should be expected to bail out the team every night.
Colorado's defensive structure has to improve regardless of who gets the start. That situation means just playing a more structured approach in front of whoever is in the crease. While it may sound simplistic, but just clearing the puck out of the zone, and avoiding costly giveaways is just one place to start.
If the Avalanche can clean up those areas, both goaltenders will have a much better chance to succeed. And that is ultimately what Bednar needs: Dependable performances in net supported by a team that makes life easier for the players wearing the pads.
Bednar could make some lineup changes without overreacting
One area worth watching is the forward lineup, particularly the decision to keep Nazem Kadri as the second-line center.
Brock Nelson has played well, but his offensive production hasn't quite matched what Colorado needs from him. Keeping Kadri in the middle of that second line makes sense for now, especially given his ability to generate offense and provide some bite behind Nathan MacKinnon.
Nelson can still be valuable in a different role. The issue is finding the right combination to get more out of the entire forward group without disrupting the chemistry that has developed.
The blue line could also use a shake-up. Sure, the Avalanche are loaded on the back end. But it just doesn’t seem to be working at the moment. So, it might be high time for Bednar to consider moving his pairings around. Perhaps splitting up Cale Makar and Devon Toews could be something worth doing now.
There may not be any major lineup changes coming Thursday, and there is no reason to assume Bednar is ready to make wholesale adjustments. But something has to get this team moving in the right direction.
The Avalanche don't need to panic. They do need to respond. And after the showing in Columbus, a much more complete effort against Nashville should be the bare minimum.
Add us as a preferred source on Google