After an impressive stretch that saw the Colorado Avalanche lose only once in regulation between January 8th and February 12th, the Avs have now lost three straight games and have fallen into third place in the NHL’s Central Division. What’s more concerning than the losses though, is the toll the games have been taking on the team’s lineup.
Monday night, the Avalanche played really well in their 4-3 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, but the result of the game is the secondary story. Midway through the second period, star winger Mikko Rantanen was breaking to the net at full speed when he was tripped by Lightning defender Erik Cernak.