January 5th 2025.
The Colorado Avalanche were riding high after their incredible comeback win against the Buffalo Sabres just two nights ago. Fueled by some frustration over the officiating, they were able to dig deep and secure a wild victory in front of an electric crowd at Ball Arena. However, their momentum was short-lived as they faced off against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, putting an end to their six-game winning streak with a 2-1 shootout loss.
Despite their best efforts, the Avalanche just couldn't seem to find their rhythm in this game. Coach Jared Bednar admitted that his team was just "OK" and lacked the attack mentality needed to create more scoring opportunities. They were up against a tough opponent in the Canadiens, who are known for their offensive prowess, and the Avs did a good job defensively. However, their lack of offensive production ultimately cost them the game.
It's possible that the Avalanche may have been a bit drained from their intense game against the Sabres, which saw them score six goals for the sixth consecutive game. This matchup against the Canadiens felt slower-paced and lacked the same level of excitement. Despite jumping out to an early lead, the Avs were unable to maintain their momentum and looked far from the dominant team that has been racking up wins over the past month.
At one point, the Avalanche had only managed seven shots on net in over 35 minutes of play. They did create more scoring opportunities than the Canadiens, but many of their shots missed the mark. This was a far cry from their recent performances, in which they had scored at least four goals in each of their past six games.
Montreal was playing on the second night of a back-to-back and had rookie Jakub Dobes in net. Despite his lack of experience, Dobes put on an impressive performance, stopping 22 of the 23 shots he faced. This was only his second career NHL start, and he had previously shut out the defending champion Florida Panthers with 34 saves in his first game.
With this loss, the Avalanche now have a record of 24-15-1 as they reach the midpoint of the season. They will need to regroup quickly as they face off against the Panthers on Monday night. It will be a tough test for them, and they will need to bring their A-game if they want to continue their success.
Despite the loss, there were a few bright spots for the Avalanche. Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood made some excellent saves to keep his team in the game, and he and Scott Wedgewood have been a solid duo since joining the team in late November and early December. In fact, this game could have been much worse if not for their strong performances.
Montreal's Cole Caufield scored the game-winning goal in the shootout with just 6:35 remaining in the third period. The Canadiens had been pushing for an equalizer and had the better of the play leading up to Caufield's goal. They had struggled to generate much offense throughout the game, but their persistence paid off in the end.
The Avalanche's lone goal came in the first period on a power play, with Mikko Rantanen scoring his 23rd goal of the season. The talented winger has been on fire lately, scoring in his fourth consecutive game and extending his point streak to 13 games. This ties the longest point streak in the NHL this season and is just one game shy of Rantanen's personal record.
Coach Bednar also provided an update on Wedgewood's injury, stating that he does not have a high-ankle sprain as previously feared. He is expected to be out for 1-2 weeks after falling awkwardly on Buffalo's Zach Benson in the crease during Thursday's game.
As the Avalanche look to bounce back from this loss and continue their success, fans can stay updated by signing up for the Avalanche Insider to get all the latest NHL analysis.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
