The Avalanche had scored a power play goal in a dozen consecutive games. In the unlucky 13th, they got played by their own power play.
Nathan MacKinnon’s shot was blocked, Cale Makar’s puck recovery was squandered at the blue line and Frederick Gaudreau converted the ensuing short-handed breakaway for the back-breaking goal in Colorado’s 4-2 loss to the Wild on Wednesday.
In the most important game of the season at Ball Arena, with a chance to leapfrog Minnesota for first place in the Central, the Avs (44-24-6) conceded what was just their third short-handed goal of the season at the worst possible time.