DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche began the current NHL season with expectations of contending for the Stanley Cup. However, three games into the season, they find themselves without a victory and in search of solutions to their early struggles.
After suffering a 6-2 defeat at home against the New York Islanders on Monday night, the Avalanche’s record slipped to 0-3. So far, the team has given up 20 goals, with 17 of those coming while a goaltender was on the ice, despite featuring star players like Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon, the reigning league MVP.
Historically, the Avalanche have weathered rough patches. In the 2021-22 season, they lost three of their first four games but ultimately clinched the Stanley Cup. However, Coach Jared Bednar finds little solace in this past experience. “Yeah, every year, multiple times,” Bednar acknowledged. “I just don’t like it because it’s at the start of the year.”
The opening two losses this season—a 8-4 setback to Vegas and a 6-4 defeat to Columbus—were largely attributed to subpar goaltending. Alexandar Georgiev, who had the most wins in the NHL last season with 38, was pulled early from both games after conceding eight goals on just 25 shots. In the match against New York, Georgiev performed slightly better, allowing five goals, but it was clear that the team’s overall defense was the primary concern on that night.
“I thought that was the worst defensive game of the three by a mile,” Bednar remarked. “It looked like we were cheating the game. If you’re going to cheat it for offense, then things aren’t going to look good defensively.”
Makar, a former Norris Trophy recipient, finished the game with a minus-three rating and was responsible for a turnover that allowed a short-handed goal, putting the Islanders ahead 4-1. Reflecting on his performance, Makar said, “I’m just not moving my feet, not playing my game. I’m hard on myself, but at the end of the day, I’ve got to be better for these guys. It’s definitely a lot closer game if I don’t play tonight.”
The Avalanche are currently without four of their top-six forwards and were also missing Makar’s defensive partner, Devon Toews, during the game. Gabe Landeskog (knee), Artturi Lehkonen (shoulder), and Valeri Nichushkin (suspension) have yet to make an appearance this season, while Jonathan Drouin is sidelined with an upper-body injury that could see him out for several weeks.
In light of these injuries, Bednar has had to rely on several rookies and younger players. One of them, 19-year-old winger Calum Ritchie, scored his first NHL goal on Monday night, although his contributions were limited otherwise.
Things aren’t expected to get easier for Colorado, but the team will at least be back on home ice. They are set to face the Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks later in the week, presenting a crucial opportunity to snap their losing streak.
“Just try to find a way, maybe, to simplify the game a little bit and just not try too hard … because it seems like it’s not working for us now,” shared forward Mikko Rantanen.