Colorado Avalanche Power Play Struggles in the 2025-26 Season

The Colorado Avalanche entered the 2025-26 season with championship aspirations and a roster filled with elite talent. But through the first 10 games of the campaign, one glaring weakness has emerged that threatens to derail their Stanley Cup hopes: a power play that ranks dead last in the NHL. With a conversion rate of just 10.3%, the Avalanche are struggling to capitalize on their most critical offensive opportunities, raising serious questions about whether their special teams can support a deep playoff run.

This isn’t a new problem for Colorado. The franchise has battled power play inconsistency throughout recent playoff disappointments, and now those struggles have followed them into the new season. With 39 power play opportunities through their first 10 games and minimal success to show for it, the Avalanche find themselves in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable position at the bottom of the league’s special teams rankings.

Understanding the Colorado Avalanche power play struggles 2025 season statistics

The numbers paint a troubling picture for Colorado’s man advantage. According to current statistics, the Avalanche sit at 30th in the NHL with their 10.3% power play success rate. This represents a dramatic decline from the 24.8% they achieved during the 2024-25 regular season, when they were actually one of the league’s more effective units with the man advantage.

Through 10 games, Colorado has converted on just four of 39 power play opportunities. That’s not just below expectations—it’s catastrophically inefficient for a team that features Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and other elite offensive talents. The Avalanche’s recent loss to the Bruins highlighted just how costly this power play ineptitude can be, as they failed to capitalize on multiple chances with the extra attacker.

The contrast is particularly stark when looking at league leaders. Teams like the Ottawa Senators are converting at 35.1%, the Pittsburgh Penguins at 33.3%, and the Minnesota Wild at 32.5%. Meanwhile, the Avalanche are struggling to crack double digits. This disparity becomes even more glaring considering Colorado possesses arguably more offensive firepower than most of these teams.

What makes this situation more concerning is the overall team performance. Despite the power play woes, the Avalanche have managed a 5-1-4 record through 10 games, accumulating 14 points and sitting second in the Central Division. They’re scoring 3.30 goals per game at even strength, which ranks 13th in the league, and their 2.40 goals against per game is tied for second-best in the NHL. Their penalty kill, at 89.3%, ranks fifth overall. These numbers suggest a team that should be dominating, yet the power play anchor is dragging them down.

The tactical breakdown behind Colorado Avalanche power play struggles 2025 season

The strategic issues plaguing Colorado’s power play run deeper than simple execution problems. According to analysis from Mile High Hockey, the Avalanche have long relied on a system designed to take advantage of their elite shooters. The philosophy centered on patience and waiting for the perfect shot, trusting that players like MacKinnon and Makar would eventually convert.

This approach worked reasonably well during regular seasons, with Colorado’s power play settling into a range between 19.1% and 24.8% over recent years. However, the inherent flaw in this system has been exposed repeatedly in high-pressure situations, particularly in the playoffs where teams have less time for shooting percentages to regress to the mean.

The departure of former assistant coach Ray Bennett, who fell on his sword following Colorado’s playoff exit last spring, was supposed to signal a fresh start. Bennett had overseen the power play for eight years, during which Colorado experienced significant ups and downs. His firing came after the team managed just 3 goals on 22 power play opportunities (13.6%) in their playoff series against Dallas—a failure that ultimately contributed to their elimination.

But bringing in new coaching hasn’t immediately solved the problems. The current system still appears to struggle with predictability. Cale Makar, arguably the league’s most talented and dynamic defenseman, continues to operate primarily from the point in a traditional umbrella formation. Critics argue this limits his ability to be a primary shooting threat and makes Colorado’s setup too easy to defend.

The lack of secondary options has become another critical flaw. When the primary shooting lanes aren’t available, the Avalanche seem to lack a backup plan. There’s no misdirection, no alternative formations that force penalty killers to adjust. Teams have studied Colorado’s tendencies and are increasingly successful at taking away the Avalanche’s preferred looks.

Colorado Avalanche power play struggles 2025 season roster and personnel challenges

Personnel changes have also contributed to the early-season struggles. While Colorado still boasts elite talent, the chemistry that took years to develop has been disrupted. Nathan MacKinnon leads the team with seven goals and 14 points through 10 games, but only two of those goals have come on the power play. Cale Makar, with 11 points including eight assists, has yet to find his shooting touch with the man advantage despite being one of the league’s premier offensive defensemen.

The addition of Martin Necas from Carolina has provided a new offensive weapon—he has six goals and 12 points in 10 games—but integrating him into power play systems takes time. Similarly, veteran Brock Nelson brings experience but needs time to mesh with his new teammates in special situations.

The Avalanche are also missing the presence of Mikko Rantanen, who was traded earlier this year. Rantanen had been Colorado’s most consistent power play sniper, and his absence has created a void that hasn’t been adequately filled. Finding a player who can provide that same shooting threat from his position has proven challenging.

Injuries and lineup adjustments have further complicated matters. Gabriel Landeskog’s availability continues to be limited, robbing Colorado of another veteran presence who understood how to create space and net-front havoc on the power play. Without consistent lineups, developing the timing and chemistry necessary for power play success becomes exponentially more difficult.

The historical context of Colorado Avalanche power play struggles 2025 season

This year’s struggles are part of a troubling pattern that extends back years. An examination of Colorado’s playoff history reveals that power play failures have been a significant factor in five of their seven playoff defeats over the past eight years. This isn’t just bad luck—it’s a systemic issue that has haunted the organization despite roster changes and tweaks to strategy.

In 2018, Colorado’s first playoff appearance under Bennett saw them convert at just 10% against Nashville. The following year against San Jose brought an even worse 8.7% in the second round. While there were bright spots—like the incredible 41.4% in 2021 and the 32.8% during their 2022 Stanley Cup run—the inconsistency has been maddening.

The 2023 series against Seattle proved particularly frustrating, with Colorado going just 2-for-28 (7.1%) in that first-round upset. While there were other distractions that series, the power play failure should have been a major red flag about fundamental issues that needed addressing.

Looking at broader NHL power play efficiency rankings, it’s clear that successful teams find ways to maintain consistency on special teams. The elite units combine talent with smart systems, multiple looks, and the ability to adjust when opponents take away their primary options. Colorado has the talent but has consistently failed to develop the systematic sophistication needed for sustained success.

What Colorado Avalanche power play struggles 2025 season means moving forward

The good news for Colorado is that it’s still early in the season. A 5-1-4 start with 14 points suggests the team can win games even without an effective power play. Their even-strength offense ranks in the top half of the league, and their defensive structure has been excellent. They’re getting contributions throughout the lineup and strong goaltending has kept them competitive.

However, championship-caliber teams cannot afford to waste one out of every 10 power play opportunities. Over the course of an 82-game season, those missed chances add up to dozens of potential goals left on the board. More importantly, come playoff time when games are decided by single goals and margins are razor-thin, a dysfunctional power play becomes a fatal flaw.

The coaching staff needs to consider more creative deployments. Freeing Cale Makar to be a primary shooter, perhaps even incorporating him into a roaming role that forces penalty killers to track him rather than parking him at the point, could unlock new possibilities. Developing secondary formations that provide different looks and keep opponents guessing should be a priority.

The Avalanche also need to find ways to generate more net-front presence and chaos. Too often, their power play looks sterile and perimeter-based, with defenders comfortable in their zones because there’s no real threat in the slot. Getting players to attack the crease and create traffic could open up shooting lanes for their elite scorers.

Time remains for Colorado to address these issues before they become insurmountable. But with each passing game where the power play fails to produce, the pressure mounts. The talent is there. The opportunity is there. Now the Avalanche need to prove they can develop a power play worthy of their championship aspirations, or risk watching another promising season slip away because of special teams shortcomings.