There was reason for cautious optimism as the Avalanche snapped a five-game slide with 4-1 win over Edmonton on Sunday. And then that cautious optimism — the thinking the Colorado was on the early track toward achieving its preseason playoff potential — grew in Wednesday’s 6-3, comeback triumph over the Bruins at home.
And two nights after roaring past Boston and its high-powered top line, Colorado gave further reason for that cautious optimism, even as the end result was Friday’s 3-2 overtime loss at the Pepsi Center to the defending champion Capitals following three periods and 22 seconds of gritty hockey.