Avalanche Suffer Second Regulation Loss, Undefeated Streak Ends

It took almost two months from opening night for the Avalanche to suffer their second regulation loss of the season. On Thursday, Colorado lost 6-3 to the New York Islanders, effectively ending its 17-game undefeated streak.

The Avs were 14-0-3 since their only other regulation loss on Oct. 25 in Boston. But this game was different. Unlike that game, they didn’t outshoot the opposition or play all that well defensively.

The Avs gave up 42 shots on Long Island, and Mackenzie Blackwood surrendered as many goals (five) as he and Scott Wedgewood had given up in the previous six games combined.

Valeri Nichushkin, Martin Necas, and Artturi Lehkonen scored for the Avalanche, who did not find the back of the net until they were down 4-0.

Already down 2-0, they gave up two goals in 61 seconds early in the second period, putting them way behind the eight-ball.

Nichushkin’s tally came at 8:39 of the middle frame, just 40 seconds after Adam Pelech scored New York’s fourth tally. And 1:25 after that, Necas put the Avs back in the game.

The back breaker for the Avs was the fifth goal, from Matt Barzal on the power play, just before the break. Barzal made it 5-2.

In the third, Colorado added one more before an empty net put the game away. Blackwood made 36 saves.