From November 4th through November 26th, the Colorado Avalanche were on the hottest streak of their season, riding a 10-game win streak. During that time, they had scored 48 goals and allowed just 15 goals. Of those games, three of them (vs the Predators, Blackhawks and Sharks), were shutouts. In those three games, the Avs scored 10 goals, which included a six-goal performance.
Though the Avs are still leading the Central Division and Western Conference, they lead by just two points (one regulation game) to the Dallas Stars, who are hot on their tail. Now, unfortunately, the Avs have lost to some waker teams, including the Sharks on November 1st. That’s the type of matchup you would expect a more experienced team in the Avalanche to win.
Their next opponent, the Florida Panthers, are smack dab in the middle of the Atlantic Division alongside the Toronto Maple Leafs with 32 points in 15 games. They are winners of three straight games, and the Avalanche cannot afford to take them lightly despite their average point total. They are coming off back to back games scoring four goals each, and the game immediately before those two, they scored seven.
Interestingly, the Avalanche have only gone four games scoring under three goals, as they have an average of 3.93, which leads the league currently. That number used to be above four goals a game, but having weaker performances happens in the NHL from time to time, even for the best teams in the league. There’s no reason to worry.
What is the Colorado Avalanche’s all-time win streak?
While the Avs won 10 in a row earlier in the year, that number is not actually their all-time best.
In 1998-99, the Avs set a franchise record for consecutive wins at 12, from January 10, 1999 to February 7, 1999. During that streak, the Avs had 47 goals while surrendering just 20.
If you notice, their recent streak had them scoring one more goal and surrendering five less this time around, which is insane given the number of Hall of Fame players on that 1998-99 team.
During that streak, the Avalanche allowed an average of 1.6 goals a game. In this most recent streak, the team allowed 1.5. That’s very interesting and it shows that they were obviously on top of the world among the best in team history.
The major question is whether or not they have what it takes to go on another strong run and perhaps beat the all-time franchise record for wins in a row. I wouldn’t rule it out, especially given that Nathan MacKinnon will want to up his goal game to continue down a Hart trophy path, and the friendly competition between Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood will want to do their best to hold their goals against number to as minimal as possible. The team currently leads the league in lowest goals against average of 2.20.
Gabriel Landeskog has five goals and nine assists this season, but has had multiple goals called back, some due to offsides, some to whatever other reason(s). He’ll want to get back onto the score sheet, as he has gone five straight games without a goal, after scoring three in his previous two games prior to the “cold” streak.
The Avs have a ton of motivation and reason to not allow themselves to slack off with the Stars right behind them. There is still a ton of time left in the season, and a lot can happen in that time, but the only thing they can control is what they do going forward. Their next opportunity is Thursday night vs the Panthers.