The Colorado Avalanche left town on Oct. 18 with a 1-4-0 record and questions about nearly every aspect of their lineup.
The Avalanche then swept a three-game road trip to pull even and now have a chance for a fifth straight win when they host the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night.
Colorado is still missing key players, but the issues that were present in losing the first four games have been cleaned up. The Avalanche are playing better in their own zone and creating more chances on the other end.
The goaltending also has improved -- and become more competitive. When Alexandar Georgiev struggled early, coach Jared Bednar showed support and affirmed that he was the No. 1 goalie. However, Justus Annunen was in net for all three road games and Bednar said he will go with the "hot hand."
With Sunday being the first of a back-to-back set, both goalies will get a start in the next two games, but Annunen, for now, is the hot hand Bednar will use.
"If he can keep getting good results, then he's going to keep getting starts," Bednar said after Saturday's practice.
Bednar also gave updates on forwards Ross Colton and Miles Wood, who were both dinged up in Thursday's win at Utah and didn't practice Saturday. Colton scored his team-leading seventh goal in the 5-1 victory and, along with Woods, will take part in Sunday's morning skate before a decision is made on their status for Ottawa.
Colorado could recall a player from the AHL should one or both sit, and with forward Calum Ritchie, a top prospect and a 2023 first-round draft pick, being assigned to the Ontario Hockey League.
Ottawa has two capable goaltenders in Linus Ullmark and Anton Forsberg but is coming off a 6-4 loss at Vegas on Friday night that Ullmark (22 saves on 27 shots) said was his responsibility. He allowed two goals within 21 seconds in the first period and then a pair one minute apart in the third.
"If we had a capable goalie in there today, we would have won 4-3," he told reporters after the game. "It was way too sloppy for this league. This is the type of game where you have to rely on the goaltender to shut the door.
"I'm not going to come up with any excuses. It stinks. It's one of those games where we deserved to win."
The Senators have gotten off to a solid start after missing the playoffs last season. They won four of their first six games and have a chance to finish 2-1 on this Western Conference road trip.
Ottawa has spread out its scoring, with five players having three or more goals and six with six or more points.
Brady Tkachuk has been one of the more consistent players to begin 2024-25. He notched at least one point in the first six games and has scored a goal in three straight games before being held without a point in the loss to the Golden Knights.
He has eight points (three goals, five assists) for second on the team to Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson, who have nine each.
This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.
