At the end of November, the Avalanche entered a 13-game stretch in which they played every other day for 25 days. It was both a relief and a burden. The first two months of the season had been wonky. Settling into the true routine of the NHL schedule for the first time was much needed.
But that routine is a grind, and the Avs (18-11-2) experienced the effects of it. They lost five of the first six in that stretch with a minus-14 goal differential and a never-ending conveyor belt of injuries.
Then they straightened out, winning five of the next six.