What's The Problem On the Road Now?

Also: Addressing the EJ return rumors

Remember when the Avs set that all-time NHL regular-season record earlier this year for most consecutive wins on the road? All the “road warrior” references, all the Willie Nelson “On the Road Again” references? Yeah, me too, at what seems like a hundred years ago now.

Can we call the Avs and their fans “Road Worriers” now? No, probably not. But the fact is: the Avs have been pretty bad away from home for a while now and it’s hurting the race for division and conference titles.

The Avs are 3-6-2 in the last 11 road games, including last night’s 2-1 OT loss to the Red Wings. So, technically, the Avs have skated off the ice nine of the last 11 road games with home crowds exultant and their own heads hanging. They blew a late third-period lead and then dropped the other point in OT.

For me, the Avs have just been bad at critical times, like in the last few minutes last night, on the road lately. While the goaltending was good last night, a bunch of recent road games, it hasn’t been good enough.

The Avs come home for two straight home games (Toronto and Dallas) this weekend, but six of the following nine games will be on the road. If the Avs are going to win another division flag, they’ve got to get better away from Ball Arena again.

OTHER NOTES AND THOUGHTS