A Rough Road Trip

When we last left our boys, it was 2025. We ended the year with a big time beatdown of the St. Louis Blues, and before we knew it, it was 2026! The Avs' tear continued! A 12-1-1 record in the month of December! Still holding the best record in the NHL, and that includes staying ahead of the surging Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild in the Central. It's a new year now, and the month of January is important. It's the last month before any breaks, and I say it like that because for the second straight year, there's no All-Star Game.

Last year, it was Four Nations. This year, it's the big one: the Olympics. The ringers are participating in this go-around; they were supposed to be part of the 2022 games, but a COVID outbreak prevented that. Regarding the Avalanche, eight of our players are selected, including Brock Nelson for Team USA--the first Avs player on Team USA since Paul Stastny back in 2014.

As for the Avs, our first game of 2026 featured us facing the Carolina Hurricanes, and just like in our first meeting, it was Nordiques vs Whalers. The throwbacks were out, and for that night, we were in the Adams Division. It was also an uphill battle for the Avs, as we trailed 3-1 after 40 minutes, with Gabriel Landeskog putting in the lone tally in that span. However, in the third period, we took over. Brock Nelson 69 seconds in, on the power play, no less! Jack Drury ties it up, and later on, Nelson again on the power play! No wonder he's going to the Olympics, he's one of the few Avs scoring on the PP. Nathan MacKinnon ices it late, adding a goal to go with his three assists. Avs win it 5-3 over the Canes in comeback fashion, and the winning streak now spans into 2026!

After leaving Raleigh, the Avs headed to the Sunshine State for the next two games. Historically, the state of Florida has been good to the Avs. Not only have we beaten both Florida franchises to win Cups, but we also won those Cups in that very state. First off, it was the defending back-to-back champions, the Florida Panthers, who appear to be getting back on track. The goals weren't plentiful, but the Panthers scored first, and it was Sam Bennett, the Conn Smythe winner from last year. Artturi Lehkonen tied it up, and it was 1-1 ater 20, but in the second period, we saw Gabriel Landeskog run into the goalpost, and it was bad. Out of the game, later revealed to be out for weeks, and late in the 2nd, Aaron Ekblad gave Florida their lead back. That held up; Avs dropped that one 2-1 in Sunrise.

The trip concluded in Tampa Bay against the Lightning. Amalie Arena, the very place where Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Gabriel Landeskog, and the rest of the Avs hoisted the Stanley Cup. It looked like we would escape the first period unscathed, but Jake Guentzel broke the scoreless tie with 12 seconds left in the first period. 1-0 Bolts after 20, just like Game Six in 2022 was. And just like Game Six that year, the Avs put up two to go up 2-1. But unlike Game Six that year, the Bolts tied it up. After that, they took the lead, and then iced it. 4-2, the final score in TB's favor.

It happened, folks. The Avalanche lost back-to-back games in regulation for the first time all season. There's the lull I was expecting, though it's not much of a lull. At least we have a home stand coming up; a seven game one, and it start this Thursday against the Senators! We'll get back on track quickly!

* * *

If you like this story, click the heart and the subscribe button, and feel free to comment below! Tips and pledges would be greatly appreciated, but only if you want to do so!