Lightning coach Jon Cooper knows what Avalanche needs — a little adversity | Journal

Nashville Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague (41) and left wing Filip Forsberg, back left, celebrate after a goal by center Ryan O’Reilly (not shown) past Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (39) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)No one has described this Colorado Avalanche season better than Jon Cooper.

The Tampa Bay Lightning coach was speaking to the media ahead of a Jan. 6 game against the Avalanche, and he said the phrase “three regulation losses.” It wasn’t what he said though, it was how he said it.

There was a little chuckle. It felt inadvertent and instinctual. Like the coach who has won the Stanley…