Avalanche fall to Bruins 3-2 as goaltending and power play issues surface

The Colorado Avalanche entered Saturday’s matinee at TD Garden looking to bounce back from a thrilling overtime defeat, only to face another setback in a 3-2 loss to the struggling Boston Bruins. The defeat marked the Avalanche’s first regulation loss of the 2025 season and exposed some persistent issues that have been lurking beneath the surface. Despite controlling possession for large stretches and outshooting their opponents, Colorado found themselves on the wrong end of the scoreline, with Jeremy Swayman standing tall in net for Boston and some crucial defensive breakdowns proving costly at critical moments.

Goaltending questions emerge after consecutive struggles

Scott Wedgewood’s workload has become increasingly concerning as the season progresses. Making his ninth consecutive start, the backup netminder allowed three goals on just 16 shots against the Bruins, continuing a troubling trend that began in the previous game against Carolina. While Wedgewood deserves credit for carrying the load during Mackenzie Blackwood’s injury absence, the signs of fatigue are becoming impossible to ignore.

The most glaring issue came early in the opening period. After the Avalanche had dominated the first 10 minutes, outshooting Boston 10-1, the Bruins struck twice in a devastating 37-second span. One of those goals came from behind the net, a shot that deflected past Wedgewood in circumstances that suggested a goaltender struggling to track the puck with the sharpness he displayed earlier in his starting streak.

Against Carolina, Wedgewood surrendered four goals in the first period alone before being pulled. The back-to-back performances indicate that even the most reliable backup needs rest. In today’s NHL, starting nine consecutive games is a rarity, especially for a goaltender who wasn’t expected to shoulder the starting role for this long.

The coaching staff now faces a decision. With Trent Miner available and Mackenzie Blackwood expected to return Tuesday against the Devils, Colorado must weigh whether to ride Wedgewood one more time or give him a breather. The quick turnaround—with New Jersey awaiting on Sunday morning—makes this decision even more pressing. Giving Miner a start wouldn’t be conceding defeat; it would be smart asset management that could allow Wedgewood to return refreshed and focused when his number is called again.

Blackwood’s expected return can’t come soon enough for the Avalanche, who need stability in goal to complement their offensive firepower. The netminder’s absence has tested the depth of Colorado’s goaltending ranks, and while Wedgewood answered the bell admirably for the majority of his stint, this weekend’s performances show that even the best-laid plans have limits.

The power play remains a major concern for Colorado

For a team boasting Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar, and a supporting cast of offensive weapons, the Avalanche power play has been nothing short of mystifying. The 0-for-3 performance against Boston dropped Colorado’s season total to a meager 4-for-37 with the man advantage, good for a 10.8% success rate that ranks 30th in the league.

This isn’t a sample size issue anymore. Nine games into the season, with 37 power play opportunities—the third-most in the NHL—the Avalanche have converted just four times. Teams with far less offensive talent are generating better results, which raises serious questions about scheme, execution, and mindset.

The concerning part isn’t just the lack of goals; it’s the lack of dangerous scoring chances. Colorado’s power play isn’t creating the high-danger opportunities that should come naturally with this level of skill. The puck movement appears predictable, the entries are often contested, and once set up in the offensive zone, the unit seems content to pass around the perimeter rather than attack the heart of the penalty kill.

Historical context makes this even more perplexing. The Avalanche have featured top-10 power play units in recent seasons, with their elite talent regularly converting at rates that frightened opponents. Now, teams seem comfortable taking penalties against Colorado, knowing the odds of surrendering a goal are slim.

Something needs to change, whether it’s personnel deployment, strategic adjustments, or a complete overhaul of the system. The margin between winning and losing in the NHL is razor-thin, and leaving this many power play opportunities on the table could be the difference between home-ice advantage and fighting for a playoff spot. Opposing teams have noticed, and they’re becoming more aggressive with their stick work, knowing Colorado’s power play poses minimal threat in its current state.

Jeremy Swayman delivers a reminder of elite goaltending

While the Avalanche certainly have areas to improve, credit must be given where it’s due: Jeremy Swayman stole this game for Boston. The Bruins netminder turned aside 31 of 33 shots, many of them from prime scoring areas, to give his struggling team the victory they desperately needed after a six-game losing streak.

Artturi Lehkonen found the back of the net twice, providing both Colorado goals, but Swayman was otherwise impenetrable. In the third period, with the Avalanche pressing hard and generating sustained offensive zone time, Swayman made save after save to preserve Boston’s lead. The Bruins managed just four shots in the final frame, relying entirely on their goaltender to hold the fort while they played defense.

This type of performance is what separates elite goaltenders from the rest of the pack. Swayman, despite his struggles following last year’s massive contract extension, showed why Boston invested so heavily in him. He tracked pucks through traffic, challenged shooters at the right moments, and displayed the positioning that made him one of the league’s rising stars.

For the Avalanche, running into a hot goaltender is part of the NHL’s reality. You can’t dominate possession, generate quality chances, and expect to win every night when you face a netminder operating at peak performance. Colorado outplayed Boston in most statistical categories, but the scoreboard is the only stat that matters, and Swayman made sure his team came out on top.

Sometimes you tip your cap to the opposition and move on. This was one of those nights where Colorado did enough to win but found themselves facing a brick wall. The positive takeaway is that the Avalanche generated those chances and controlled play for significant stretches. When they face average goaltending performances—which will be most nights—those same scoring opportunities will translate into wins.

Offensive depth and lineup considerations moving forward

Beyond the goaltending and special teams concerns, Colorado’s depth scoring has become a legitimate question mark. The top line continues to produce at an elite level, but the second unit featuring Gabriel Landeskog and Brock Nelson has combined for just one goal and four points through nine games—production that falls well short of expectations.

This raises an intriguing possibility: should head coach Jared Bednar consider shuffling Martin Necas into the second line? Necas brings the creativity and skill that could elevate Nelson and provide a different look for opponents. Currently, the second line lacks a true facilitator, someone who can create space and generate chances through individual skill and vision.

Swapping Necas with either Landeskog or Valeri Nichushkin might unlock both lines. The Lehkonen-MacKinnon connection proved lethal against Boston, accounting for both goals, so keeping that duo intact makes sense. But surrounding them with different complementary pieces while upgrading the second line’s offensive capabilities could provide the depth scoring Colorado needs to compete with the league’s best.

The bottom-six situation also bears watching. Zakhar Bardakov has seen his ice time shrink dramatically over the last three games, logging just 5:57, 4:24, and 4:33 respectively. The coaching staff’s lack of trust in the young forward is evident, and it may be time to consider alternative lineup configurations that maximize the talents of players who have earned more opportunity.

With quick turnaround games against New Jersey looming, Bednar has limited practice time to experiment. However, the early season provides the perfect opportunity to find the right combinations before habits become entrenched. Colorado’s championship aspirations depend on more than just the top line carrying the offensive load; they need consistent secondary scoring and depth contributions throughout the lineup.

Critical mistakes and mental lapses prove costly

Beyond the systemic issues, individual mistakes cost the Avalanche dearly against Boston. The most egregious came with less than 10 seconds remaining in the second period. What should have been a routine play—a Bruins dump-in with time expiring—turned into a nightmare when Morgan Geekie won a race to the puck, beat Josh Manson with a quick move, and caught Wedgewood looking the wrong way to jam home Boston’s third goal.

These are the types of plays that simply cannot happen at the NHL level. With under 10 seconds on the clock, defensive awareness should be at its highest. Instead, a mental lapse allowed the Bruins to take a two-goal lead into the intermission, fundamentally changing the complexion of the game. Rather than trailing 2-1 with momentum potentially shifting, Colorado faced a mountain to climb in the third period.

The early defensive breakdowns in the first period fit a similar pattern. After dominating the opening minutes and outshooting Boston 10-1, the Avalanche relaxed for just 37 seconds—and paid the price with two goals against. Championship teams don’t allow those momentum swings. They maintain concentration regardless of how well they’re playing, understanding that NHL games are won and lost in brief moments of intensity.

Colorado has also found themselves trailing in each of the last three games, forcing them to play from behind. This isn’t a sustainable approach, especially when the power play is struggling. Getting out to early leads allows teams to dictate terms, forcing opponents to chase and opening up opportunities for counterattacks. Playing from behind, conversely, often leads to desperation plays, defensive lapses, and increased pressure on the goaltender.

The Avalanche are too talented to let these losses spiral into a concerning trend. However, the margin for error in the NHL is minuscule, and the difference between a contender and a pretender often comes down to eliminating these types of mistakes. As Colorado prepares for Sunday’s 11 a.m. matchup with New Jersey, the focus must be on starting strong, maintaining concentration for a full 60 minutes, and capitalizing on their advantages rather than squandering them through preventable errors. With Blackwood’s return on the horizon and adjustments available throughout the lineup, the Avalanche have the tools to correct course—but only if they commit to the details that separate winning from losing.