Avalanche Survive Lengthy Road Trip with a 6-3-2 Record

Dale MacMillan/Getty Images

The beginning of the season, which featured 11 of 15 games on the road, is over for the upstart Colorado Avalanche.

They'll take their 6-3-2 road record every time.

Ideally, you want to collect half of the points possible on every road trip and 75 percent of the points possible at home. Doing this would put a team at around 102 points on the season (41 road points, 61 home points), which will usually be enough to win a division title.

So far, the Avalanche have collected 64 percent of road points available and 100 percent of home points available, so it comes as no shock that they find themselves first in the Western Conference with 22 points.

But fatigue is starting to catch up.

The road trip ended with two dismal losses in which the Avalanche were out scored 6-1. In the final game against Vancouver, a 3-0 loss, the team went through the motions and was only able to muster 18 shots on goal against former Avalanche goalie Andrew Raycroft.

Part of the problem has been the recent wave of injuries that has forced players like Brian Willsie, Chris Durno and Philippe Dupuis (three players who started the season in the AHL) into the lineup. All three have worked hard, but none of them are known for having the offensive talent to produce in the NHL.

The return of defenseman John-Michael Liles from injury was expected to help revive the power play, but Liles has looked flat and the power play is goal-less since his return two games ago.

Perhaps most puzzling is the lack of production on the road by star center Paul Stastny. Zero goals and five assists in 11 road games isn't enough for a player being paid $6.6 million per season.

Three Stars of the Month

Craig Anderson

The offseason signing played all 14 of the Avalanche's games in October, compiling a 10-2-2 record. Anderson was voted first star of the month by the NHL.

Ryan O'Reilly

Originally a long-shot to make the team, the 18-year-old center has made headlines throughout the NHL, scoring 11 points in October to go along with a rookie best plus-10 rating.

Wojtek Wolski

Back at the left wing position, Wolski had a strong start to the year with eight goals in October.

Dud of the Month

Marek Svatos

After scoring two goals in the first five games of the season, the Slovakian winger finished October goal-less in the month's final nine games.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?