The Colorado Avalanche haven't lost on the road since March 4, 2023 — setting a new NHL record for longest road wins streak across seasons at 15.
Ryan Johansen notched two goals and Mikko Rantanen collected four points in the 7-4 win over the New York Islanders Tuesday night. The Avalanche tied their undefeated season-opening record at six — which was set in 2013-14.
Colorado also set a new NHL record for most consecutive road wins across regular seasons with 15. The Avalanche's last loss on the road was against the Dallas Stars on March 4.
Johansen's goal came on the power play at 15:41 into the first period. It was his third goal in three games.
"We have high expectations not only on the team but the power play as well. We want to be dominant every time," Johansen said after the game.
Cale Makar scored a highlight reel goal on the backhand over the shoulder of Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin to put the Avalanche up 2-1 at 12:52 in the first period.
"It felt like we had our legs early. I still feel like we made a couple mental lapses in the D-zone and unfortunately one led to a goal, bad play by me. Overall, I think we have the legs, we just gotta use them right," Makar told Altitude's Katie Gaus during the first intermission.
The Avalanche struggled throughout the game to find their defensive footing allowing the Islanders to take a 3-2 lead in the second period.
"I think it's just communication. Obviously everybody wants to help out and you want to get puck-focused but at the end of the day the biggest thing you can do is focus on your assignment," the 24-year-old Norris Trophy- winning defenseman said.
Makar's goal put him in third place on the franchise all-time points list by a defenseman with 254. He surpassed Sandis Ozolinsh (253) — who now owns fourth place.
Bowen Byram took a chip off his shoulder to get his first of the season in the second period and tie the game three all. Nathan MacKinnon responded less than a minute later on a set up from Valeri Nichushkin to put the Avalanche up at the end of the period.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said Byram had his best game so far this season and was glad he was rewarded for it.
Anders Lee scored his first of the season for the Isles to tie it up again less than five minutes into the third period.
Mikko Rantanen grabbed a cross-ice pass from Tomas Tatar to wrist one past Sorokin for the game-winner and put the Avs up 4-3 at 7:47 into the third period.
"We just play our game at home, and on the road we don't change a thing. Try to play fast, and I think we just have a good team and that helps," Rantanen said after the win. "Good team effort. It was kind of an up and down game ... just finding a way as a team, which is a really good thing this early in the season."
Johansen scored his fourth of the season into an empty net with less than a minute remaining in the game and Ross Colton was credited an empty-netter to end it 7-4.
said it wasn't necessarily mistakes his players made but more of the Islanders capitalizing on those missteps his players took.
The Avalanche face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday at PPG Paints Arena.