Chalk it up as another disastrous loss for the Avalanche.
Colorado was shutout 4-0 by the Florida Panthers on Saturday, falling to 0-3-1 on its six-game road trip and 6-16-4 in its last 22 road games.
The Avs failed to capitalize on an early power play before giving up two easy power-play goals to the Panthers before the first intermission. Things went from bad to worse in the second, where they were outshot 24-9, on the receiving end of 11 high-danger opportunities and found themselves down three goals before the final frame. Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 35 saves to earn the shutout.
They’ve had ruts like this in the past, but with the All-Star Game in the rearview mirror, the expectation is for things to ramp up for potential Stanley Cup contenders. Colorado has gone entirely the other way. Superstar center Nathan MacKinnon was held without a point for the third straight game — a streak he hasn’t had since the 2021 postseason. And Artturi Lehkonen, who returned from a long-term neck injury in January, has just one assist in six games.
#Avs coach Jared Bednar said Nathan MacKinnon was getting some work done on his chin after it was cut when he was fell, but didn't have an update beyond that.
— Corey Masisak (@cmasisak22) February 11, 2024
Without Valeri Nichushkin, the Avs have struggled to find secondary scoring. And when MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen (pointless in four games) are held off the scoresheet, the offense seemingly runs dry.
Aarif Deen is joined by Guerilla Sports’ J.J. Jerez for an OG reunion. The guys break down the lopsided 4-0 loss in Florida and the disastrous road trip as a whole. They also look at ways the Avs could dig out of this rut after falling to 0-3-1 since the All-Star break. All that and more on this edition of Hockey Mountain High: Your go-to Avalanche Podcast.