The Colorado Avalanche extended their win streak to ten games on Wednesday night, routing the Sharks 6-0, and earning themselves three shutouts in a row heading into the holiday. Colorado continues to reach new heights almost every game, and they've given fans a lot to look forward to this season. They've also given Avs Faithful a lot to be grateful so far.
Goaltending
Last November, the Avalanche goalie tandem was made up of Justus Annunen and Alexander Georgiev. At the time of his trade to San Jose, Georgiev was sitting on a 8-7-0 record, 3.38 GAA, .874 save percentage in just 18 games. Annunen, who was dealt to Nashville, didn't look any better with a 6-4-0 record, 3.23 GAA, and .872 save percentage in 16 games played.
Now, Colorado has their beloved Lumberyard goalie tandem of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood, who are both playing a vital role in the team’s impressive record this season. Wedgewood in particular has stepped up during Blackwood's early absence this season. He's had a 13-1-2 record with a .918 save percentage. In 17 games, Blackwood has faced 415 shots against and only allowed 34 goals. Blackwood's recent return to the lineup has been promising with a 3-0-1 record, .911 save percentage, and 10 goals allowed on 112 shots. The two goalies have combined to give the Avalanche a +38 goal differential, the highest in the league.
The hard work in the net has paid off, keeping Colorado at the top of the standings, and Wedgewood has recently been put up for consideration to join team Canada for the 2026 Olympics coming to Milan.
Return of Gabriel Landeskog
For the first time in three seasons, Gabriel Landeskog is on the regular season roster and his presence on the ice cannot be ignored. While the captain is still finding his footing, sitting on only two goals and six assists, and an unfortunate hat trick of goals of overturned, it's clear having him on the bench and skating with the team is setting a winning tone, one Avs fans haven't seen since their 2022 Stanley Cup win. Not only is Landeskog back to leading this team at full capacity, Avs fans are getting to bask in the joy of watching their captain play hockey again.
Team chemistry
Any Avs fan that's been privy to watching a game this season, whether in person or on television, has undoubtedly witnessed the epic bond that seemed to form around this season's Avalanche squad. Not only are they firing on all cylinders every time they take to the ice, they're carrying that same energy over into the locker room. From synchronized victory dances to seeing each other as comrades in arms, this team is having as much fun off the ice as they are on it.
Finding ways to win
The Avalanche are racking up points, leaving almost every match with at least one under their belt and making even the overtime losses worth something.
Out of their 23 games played, they've secured a point in all but one, a regulation loss to the Bruins in Boston. Colorado is finding ways to always battle into at least a point on the night. They're winning big, like their 9-1 win against Edmonton on November 8th, and even when they're getting a little sloppy, they're pulling out shutout wins like their two recent matchups against division rivals Nashville and Chicago.
Sometimes their game doesn't look the prettiest, but the Avalanche are always finding some kind of win when they leave the ice.
Next man up mentality
Like most NHL teams, Colorado is all too familiar with the injury bug. They started this season without last season's starting goalie, Mackenzie Blackwood, as well as their bottom-six grinder Logan O'Connor, and have since gone stints without Valeri Nichushkin, Samuel Girard, and now rookie Gavin Brindley.
This definitely is worst case scenario for Colorado, especially not with the way the locker room has adjusted to injuries this season. Landeskog has credited their everlasting win streak to the locker room's ability to step up and take charge when needed. No doubt an extension of the good vibes going around the room, between call-ups, injuries, and shifting rosters, there's no stutter step in Colorado.