There’s still time for the Colorado Avalanche to improve the roster before the March 7 trade deadline, but the biggest issue right now needs an internal fix.
Colorado has spent a quarter of the season in one-step-forward, one-step-back mode. The Avs are 9-9-2 in their past 20 games. What’s worse, they have scored 52 goals in that span — 2.6 per game, which is 24th in the NHL.
The Avs suddenly can’t score enough goals to be a good team, let alone a great one. And when Nathan MacKinnon isn’t on the ice, the numbers look more like a lottery team.
“All three of those lines, if you look through how many guys have gone 10, 12 games with just a point or two — it’s the bulk of them,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “If you’re not going to get on the scoresheet, you definitely have to be good at some other things, and those lines have been. That’s why we were 5-3 going into the break with some really good analytical numbers and things that were trending in the right direction.
“But still, it can’t just be the top line, the power play and a couple ‘D’ scoring. We have to find a way to chip in a little bit more with those other lines.”
There should be some help on the way, possibly as soon as Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils. Valeri Nichushkin participated in practice Monday, skating on the second line with Casey Mittelstadt and Jonathan Drouin. If he plays Tuesday, it would be only the second game all season that Bednar has had his 10 preferred options for the top two power-play units available, and only the fifth time the top-six forwards have all played.
The Avs could add more help before the trade deadline. But basically every forward who hasn’t spent time on the top line or PP1 is not producing at his expected rate.
Mittelstadt has seven points in his past 20 games, and his struggles have been well-documented since a hot start to the season.
“I think personally, for myself, it’s been probably not my best hockey,” Mittelstadt said. “Of course, you want to play better. I think for me, it’s about the process and finding a way to get yourself in a better spot and yourself ready to play. Hopefully we can peak at the right time here. We have the skill. I think if we get healthy, that’ll definitely help. Just keep working. It’s always turned around. So just keep working and keep going.”
Here’s the production from the eight forwards who haven’t spent significant time on the top line in the past 12 games:
(Click here to view chart in mobile.)
| Player | Games | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juuso Parssinen | 12 | 1 | 3 |
| Casey Mittelstadt | 12 | 0 | 3 |
| Jack Drury | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| Park Kelly | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| Joel Kiviranta | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Logan O’Connor | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Ross Colton | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Miles Wood | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Mittelstadt is far from alone. Joel Kiviranta had 10 goals at Christmas, but has just one in the past 23 games. His normal linemates, Parker Kelly and Logan O’Connor, have combined for two points in the past 13 games. That’s a trio that Bednar has praised often for their 200-foot play, but the Avs still need more offense from them.
Like Kiviranta, Ross Colton got off to a career-best start, but has gone ice cold. He has one goal since Jan. 2, and no points in his past 14 games. His typical linemates, Jack Drury (two goals in 10 games) and Miles Wood (zero points in nine games), are also slumping.
“I have no idea,” a visibly frustrated Colton said. “We’re working hard. We’re trying with the minutes we get. Just keep working. If I knew the answer, I’d tell you.
“I’ve never had anything like this in my career. I’m just trying to keep the right mindset — doing extra stuff in the gym, going on (the ice) early. Just trying to stay positive. I can’t really blame anyone but myself, just keep trying to work through it.”
Bednar tweaked the bottom two lines at practice Monday, flipping Kiviranta and Wood. If Nichushkin plays, all three of the bottom-nine groups could look different.
There have been flashes of hope: Mittelstadt, Drouin and Juuso Parssinen created a lovely team goal against Nashville, which defenseman Sam Malinski finished. Some of the angst is because the Avs have only played two games in 18 days, and scored one goal in each of them.
This team has defended well for much of the season. The goaltending has improved since the two early season trades. Drury and Martin Necas have been solid fits since the Mikko Rantanen trade.
But the one thing that was a hallmark for this club for years — high-octane offense — is the one area that needs to improve before the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin.
“There’s so many good players and guys who can step up in spots,” Mittelstadt said. “For us, the urgency needs to kick up. I think we can bounce back and get some wins going here.”
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