The Colorado Avalanche hit the weekend riding a two-game skid. As weird as that sounds, the Avs have lost back-to-back games for just the second time this season. They lost in overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs last Monday night and dropped a 7-3 decision to the Nashville Predators on Friday night.
In reality, the loss to the Preds was a 5-3 defeat, considering Nashville scored two empty-netters. That said, let’s take a look at this edition of the Avalanche news.
Avalanche 1st regulation loss at home
It took 23 home games for the Avalanche to lose their first in regulation. While the Avs have lost three others in overtime or shootout, the first home loss in regulation this season came well past the midway mark of the season.
It took a hat trick from former Avalanche Ryan O’Reilly to get it done. The Avalanche are now 19-1-3 at Ball Arena. While the loss stung, it should be of no concern at this point. Such games are part of the ebb and flow of NHL dynamics throughout a season. Even the best teams go through rough patches.
That said, the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild have missed opportunities to make up ground. Dallas is riding a two-game skid, while the Wild have lost three straight. So, if there’s a silver lining, it’s the top three teams in the Central skidding at the same time.
Rangers impending sell-off
A recurring theme this week has been the Avalanche targeting players from the New York Rangers. That situation came to a head on Friday as the club’s GM Chris Drury issued an open letter to fans in which the team basically admitted they’re going to be “retooling” as part of their strategy moving forward.
That situation has prompted all sorts of speculation regarding the sell-off that’s impending in New York. We’ve taken a look at potential targets the Avalanche could consider amid the Rangers' fire sale.
It’s worth keeping an eye on star winger Artemi Panarin. The Avalanche have been linked to the impending UFA. He might not come cheap, but he could be the sort of superstar move that legit Cup contenders like the Avalanche could be looking to make.
Jets resurgence in Central Division
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Winnipeg Jets have now won four in a row. The Jets remain mired in last place in the Central. They sank to the bottom of the league amid an 11-game losing streak.
But the Jets’ resurgence could make them a dangerous team to play down the road. The Avalanche have only played the Jets once this season. They won 3-2 on December 19. The two clubs will face each other three times in March, including back-to-back games on the 26th and 28th. Winnipeg might be a tough team to knock off at that point. Plus, the Jets would like nothing more than to play the role of spoiler.
So, keep an eye on the Jets, even if they are hardly poised to make the playoffs at this point.
The Avalanche will be off this weekend, but will hit the ice on Monday against the Washington Capitals as part of a busy week that will see them play three games at home.