The Colorado Avalanche played hard but suffered a disappointing 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Colorado Avalanche are hitting a small break between games and it couldn’t come at a better time. After suffering back-to-back losses to the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Avalanche have two days off before playing five of their next six games against Central Division opponents. Bowen Byram. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA0NTg5NjAxNTk4MjE5NTc5/usatsi_22611525_168400956_lowres.jpg] Bowen Byram. In their last 10 games, the Avalanche are 3-5-2 and sit third in the Central Division [https://www.nhl.com/standings/2024-02-25/division]. Since Feb. 5, the club has ranked 25th in the NHL with a mediocre 2.50 goals for per game rate and tied for 22nd in goals against per game at 3.50, among the league’s worst on the faceoff dot winning 44.6%. To make matters worse, their special teams have been abysmal converting 10% of their power play opportunities, and killing off 73.3% of penalties committed. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6BKyUOKSDE[/embed] With six games left until the 2024 trade deadline, the Avalanche have very few games remaining to determine what their path will be at the deadline and a very tight battle for first place in the division. With only three points separating the Avalanche, the Dallas Stars [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars/] and the Winnipeg Jets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/winnipeg-jets/], the weight of this current slump is beginning to sink in. The Avalanche will begin their test against their Central Division opponents on Tuesday, Feb 27 versus the Stars. They will then hit the road and begin a stretch of five games in nine days facing the Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/] twice (one away, one home), the Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/] (away), Detroit Red Wings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/] (home), and then the Minnesota Wild [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/] (home). RECENT ARTICLES Mikko Rantanen hits milestone in Avalanche disappointing loss to Toronto Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/game-day/mikko-rantanen-hits-milestone-in-avalanche-disappointing-loss-to-toronto-maple-leafs] Celebrating diversity by looking back on Avalanche history [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/commentary/celebrating-diversity-by-looking-back-on-avalanche-history] Avalanche prospect praised by draft expert [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/players/avalanche-prospect-praised-by-draft-expert] Nathan MacKinnon continues to roll at home, extends home point scoring streak to 28 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/players/nathan-mackinnon-continues-to-roll-at-home-extends-home-point-scoring-streak-to-28] Insider links Avalanche to the desert for a center [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/players/insider-links-avalanche-to-the-desert-for-a-center]
