The Colorado Avalanche were shut out for the second consecutive game and their latest losing streak is now at five games after a 6-0 loss at home to Toronto on Thursday. Semyon Varlamov was pulled in the second period after allowing five goals on 18 shots in the loss.
Colorado has now been held without a goal in ten of their last 12 periods of hockey and now claim the league’s worst mark not only in scoring, but in goals allowed. The Avalanche are one loss away from matching their season-high of six, set between Nov. 23 and Dec. 6 (one loss was in a shootout).
Nazem Kadri scored twice, Frederik Andersen stopped 38 shots for his first shutout this season and Auston Matthews scored his team-leading 16th goal to get the Maple Leafs started in the first period. James Van Riemsdyk had a goal and an assist, and Connor Brown and Frederik Gauthier also scored for Toronto.
Colorado travels to Chicago on Friday to face the best team in the Western Conference (and tied with Columbus for tops in the NHL). The Blackhawks will be well rested and ready to get back on track. They had a five-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday at home by Ottawa. Chicago is 13-3-3 at home this season; Colorado is 4-11-1 on the road.
