So-so goaltending and multiple defensive breakdowns usually suggest the Avalanche has little chance to win.
Tuesday at the Pepsi Center, however, Colorado's best offensive players were as good as advertised against the mighty Chicago Blackhawks, and if nothing else, the bipartisan crowd enjoyed itself in what has become the house of horrors for Avalanche faithful.
Matt Duchene (two goals) and Nathan MacKinnon (two assists) - the former on the trade block and latter the building block of the future - gave the Avs an opportunity for a rare win in this forgetful season, but ultimately Colorado's first four-goal game in more than a month couldn't make up for too many miscues by goalie Semyon Varlamov and his defensemen.