Since the All-Star break, the Avalanche has struggled to score goals, especially in close games. Despite Nathan Mackinnon taking the majority of the offensive burden, the Avs must find a way to be more consistent in the offensive zone.
After absorbing their second four-goal road loss in the past month, the Colorado Avalanche will aim to build upon their NHL-best home record on Monday when they take on the Chicago Blackhawks in Denver.
Colorado is 23-6-0 at Ball Arena compared to 14-14-5 anywhere else. Poor puck movement and lack of possession added up during Saturday’s 5-1 loss in Nashville, the Avalanche’s third setback in their past four road games.
“(Our play) slid more and more as the game went on,” Colorado forward Logan O’Connor said. “The puck became like a hand grenade for us. When that happens, you have to support one another and be closer, but I felt like we were more spread out. The result can be what you … saw, and that’s a sloppy, sloppy second half of the game for us.”
Colorado’s goal: to avoid any lingering letdown, something the Blackhawks are currently experiencing.
After the visiting Avalanche routed the Blackhawks 5-0 on Thursday behind two goals and an assist from Zach Parise, Chicago coach Luke Richardson felt the club had a hangover during Saturday’s 5-2 home loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“You can’t fold the tent with one disappointing loss against a really good team like Colorado, and then just disregard the structure of how we’re supposed to play,” Richardson said, adding that it was “just not a smart game.”
Against Columbus, Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom surrendered a goal in the opening minute of the first period following a turnover by defenseman Seth Jones on a night Chicago never led.
Philipp Kurashev and Ryan Donato each tallied a goal and an assist, but it wasn’t enough as Chicago lost for the sixth time in a row.
