In less than 10 minutes Monday night, the Avalanche went from driving in cruise control to examining the wreckage.
Following a near-perfect first period and holding a two-goal lead nearly midway through Game 2 against the Dallas Stars, the Avs allowed four goals within 9:20 of the second period and lost 5-2 at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
Dallas, which rallied to win from a two-goal deficit for the ninth time this season, takes a 2-0 series lead into Game 3 of the seven-game Western Conference semifinal on Wednesday.
“It’s a seven-game series for a reason,” Avs captain Gabe Landeksog said.