March 10, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) collides with Edmonton Oilers goalie Connor Ingram (39) during the second period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Image So here are some ways to survive a Colorado avalanche.
Have them play with only 10 forwards.
That’s what happened Tuesday night when Colorado visited Edmonton, resulting in a 4-3 loss that snapped the NHL-leading Avalanche’s five-game winning streak.
The Avs are scheduled to begin a new season Thursday in Seattle.
Colorado’s Ross Colton, who scored early in the game, had to leave with an upper body injury after taking a hit midway through the second quarter. Then, Nathan MacKinnon, who leads the league in goals with 43, was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct after colliding with Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram while driving toward the net at 19:25 of the second.
The short-handed Aves erased a 3-2 deficit at 7:04 of the third period, but failed to recover, allowing Connor McDavid’s power-play goal just two minutes later.
“It’s not easy to go to (10) forwards for almost half the game, but that’s the hand we’ve been dealt,” said the recently reacquired Avalanche forward Nazem Kadri. “We tried to come back. I thought we had some good momentum, but I think at the end of the day there was a lot we could clean up.”
Colorado coach Jared Bednar agreed.
“It wasn’t a good night considering what our team needed against the Oilers,” Bednar said. “There were some things I really liked, and I liked the team’s pushback in the third period, but we didn’t do our best for the entire 60 minutes. But right now, I can’t single out anyone for going through it. I think our guys are trying hard.”
Bednar said he hopes Colton will return Thursday.
“He relaxed a little more after taking a shot from a player during the game,” Bednar said. “So he has an upper body injury, hopefully he can warm up and play in Seattle.”
This is the second of three regular season meetings. Colorado won 5-3 in Seattle on Dec. 16, with MacKinnon scoring two goals and an assist and goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood making 35 saves.
The Kraken, who remain in the Western Conference’s second and final wild-card playoff spot despite three straight losses, are finishing a six-game homestand at 2-3-0.
Seattle took a two-goal lead at visiting Nashville on Tuesday, jumping out to a 19-7 lead in the first period but ultimately dropping a 4-2 decision.
“I thought we played well… our team hasn’t been in this position fighting for a playoff spot in years,” Kraken coach Lane Lambert said. “And now I’m showing you little by little: You have to last 60 minutes.
“Right now, it seems like anything that can go wrong will go wrong. There’s a lot of hockey left here, so we’ve got to find a way to dig ourselves out.”
Center Matty Beniers scored and started the game for Seattle.
“I’m not really worried about what’s going on around the league,” Beniers said. “Just focus on us and try to win hockey games and everything will take care of itself.”
The Kraken are hoping forward Bobby McMann, acquired at the trade deadline from Toronto last Friday, can make his Seattle debut. McMann is dealing with visa issues.
–Field level media
