2017–18 Colorado Avalanche season

The 2017–18 Colorado Avalanche season was the 23rd operational season and 22nd playing season since the franchise relocated from Quebec prior to the start of the 1995–96 NHL season. As well as the franchise's 39th season in the National Hockey League and 46th season overall. After finishing the previous season in last place with just 48 points (21 points behind the next worst team), the Avalanche clinched the playoffs for the first time since the 2013–14 season.

Standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The preseason schedule was released on June 13, 2017. 2017 preseason game log: 4–2–0 (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 2–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 19 Vegas 4–1 Colorado Martin — 0–1–0 Recap 2 September 21 Dallas 1–5 Colorado Varlamov — 1–1–0 Recap 3 September 23 Colorado 1–2 Minnesota Bernier 18,754 1–2–0 Recap 4 September 24 Minnesota 1–5 Colorado Varlamov — 2–2–0 Recap 5 September 25 Colorado 4–2 Dallas Bernier 10,200 3–2–0 Recap 6 September 28 Colorado 4–2 Vegas Varlamov 15,337 4–2–0 Recap

Regular season The regular season schedule was published on June 22, 2017. 2017–18 game log October: 6–5–0 (Home: 4–1–0; Road: 2–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 5 Colorado 4–2 NY Rangers Varlamov 18,006 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 7 Colorado 1–4 New Jersey Bernier 16,514 1–1–0 2 Recap 3 October 9 Colorado 4–0 Boston Varlamov 17,565 2–1–0 4 Recap 4 October 11 Boston 3–6 Colorado Varlamov 18,011 3–1–0 6 Recap 5 October 13 Anaheim 1–3 Colorado Bernier 15,393 4–1–0 8 Recap 6 October 14 Colorado 1–3 Dallas Varlamov 17,967 4–2–0 8 Recap 7 October 17 Colorado 1–4 Nashville Varlamov 17,113 4–3–0 8 Recap 8 October 19 St. Louis 4–3 Colorado Bernier 13,890 4–4–0 8 Recap 9 October 24 Dallas 3–5 Colorado Varlamov 12,823 5–4–0 10 Recap 10 October 27 Colorado 0–7 Vegas Varlamov 17,702 5–5–0 10 Recap 11 October 28 Chicago 3–6 Colorado Bernier 17,360 6–5–0 12 Recap November: 6–4–2 (Home: 4–1–1; Road: 2–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 2 Carolina 3–5 Colorado Varlamov 12,048 7–5–0 14 Recap 13 November 4 Colorado 5–4 Philadelphia SO Varlamov 19,616 8–5–0 16 Recap 14 November 5 Colorado 4–6 NY Islanders Bernier 10,927 8–6–0 16 Recap 15 November 10 Ottawa 4–3 Colorado OT Varlamov 13,396 8–6–1 17 Recap 16 November 11 Colorado 3–4 Ottawa Bernier 13,396 8–7–1 17 Recap 17 November 16 Washington 2–6 Colorado Varlamov 15,070 9–7–1 19 Recap 18 November 18 Colorado 2–5 Nashville Varlamov 17,113 9–8–1 19 Recap 19 November 19 Colorado 4–3 Detroit OT Bernier 19,515 10–8–1 21 Recap 20 November 22 Dallas 0–3 Colorado Bernier 14,874 11–8–1 23 Recap 21 November 24 Colorado 2–3 Minnesota SO Bernier 19,084 11–8–2 24 Recap 22 November 25 Calgary 3–2 Colorado Bernier 15,738 11–9–2 24 Recap 23 November 29 Winnipeg 2–3 Colorado OT Varlamov 13,017 12–9–2 26 Recap December: 7–7–1 (Home: 4–5–0; Road: 3–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 1 New Jersey 2–1 Colorado Varlamov 14,614 12–10–2 26 Recap 25 December 3 Dallas 7–2 Colorado Bernier 13,194 12–11–2 26 Recap 26 December 5 Buffalo 4–2 Colorado Varlamov 13,258 12–12–2 26 Recap 27 December 7 Colorado 2–5 Tampa Bay Varlamov 19,092 12–13–2 26 Recap 28 December 9 Colorado 7–3 Florida Varlamov 13,821 13–13–2 28 Recap 29 December 11 Colorado 2–1 Pittsburgh Bernier 18,411 14–13–2 30 Recap 30 December 12 Colorado 2–5 Washington Varlamov 18,506 14–14–2 30 Recap 31 December 14 Florida 1–2 Colorado Varlamov 13,096 15–14–2 32 Recap 32 December 16 Tampa Bay 6–5 Colorado Bernier 16,956 15–15–2 32 Recap 33 December 18 Pittsburgh 2–4 Colorado Varlamov 15,824 16–15–2 34 Recap 34 December 21 Colorado 1–2 Los Angeles OT Varlamov 18,230 16–15–3 35 Recap 35 December 23 Colorado 6–2 Arizona Varlamov 11,838 17–15–3 37 Recap 36 December 27 Arizona 3–1 Colorado Varlamov 15,671 17–16–3 37 Recap 37 December 29 Toronto 3–4 Colorado OT Varlamov 18,013 18–16–3 39 Recap 38 December 31 NY Islanders 1–6 Colorado Bernier 17,461 19–16–3 41 Recap January: 8–2–1 (Home: 6–0–0; Road: 2–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 Winnipeg 2–3 Colorado OT Bernier 13,058 20–16–3 43 Recap 40 January 4 Columbus 0–2 Colorado Bernier 13,763 21–16–3 45 Recap 41 January 6 Minnesota 2–7 Colorado Bernier 18,046 22–16–3 47 Recap 42 January 13 Colorado 4–1 Dallas Bernier 18,532 23–16–3 49 Recap 43 January 15 Anaheim 1–3 Colorado Bernier 16,090 24–16–3 51 Recap 44 January 18 San Jose 3–5 Colorado Bernier 14,349 25–16–3 53 Recap 45 January 20 NY Rangers 1–3 Colorado Bernier 18,056 26–16–3 55 Recap 46 January 22 Colorado 4–2 Toronto Bernier 18,979 27–16–3 57 Recap 47 January 23 Colorado 2–4 Montreal Bernier 21,302 27–17–3 57 Recap 48 January 25 Colorado 1–3 St. Louis Bernier 18,817 27–18–3 57 Recap 49 January 30 Colorado 3–4 Vancouver OT Bernier 18,257 27–18–4 58 Recap February: 7–6–1 (Home: 4–1–0; Road: 3–5–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 50 February 1 Colorado 4–3 Edmonton OT Bernier 18,347 28–18–4 60 Recap 51 February 3 Colorado 0–3 Winnipeg Varlamov 15,321 28–19–4 60 Recap 52 February 6 San Jose 1–3 Colorado Bernier 13,349 29–19–4 62 Recap 53 February 8 Colorado 1–6 St. Louis Bernier 18,951 29–20–4 62 Recap 54 February 10 Colorado 1–3 Carolina Varlamov 15,589 29–21–4 62 Recap 55 February 11 Colorado 5–4 Buffalo Bernier 17,646 30–21–4 64 Recap 56 February 14 Montreal 0–2 Colorado Varlamov 14,928 31–21–4 66 Recap 57 February 16 Colorado 1–6 Winnipeg Bernier 15,321 31–22–4 66 Recap 58 February 18 Edmonton 4–2 Colorado Varlamov 18,076 31–23–4 66 Recap 59 February 20 Colorado 5–4 Vancouver OT Varlamov 18,107 32–23–4 68 Recap 60 February 22 Colorado 2–3 Edmonton OT Varlamov 18,347 32–23–5 69 Recap 61 February 24 Colorado 1–5 Calgary Varlamov 19,201 32–24–5 69 Recap 62 February 26 Vancouver 1–3 Colorado Varlamov 12,654 33–24–5 71 Recap 63 February 28 Calgary 2–5 Colorado Varlamov 12,107 34–24–5 73 Recap March: 8–4–3 (Home: 5–3–1; Road: 3–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 2 Minnesota 1–7 Colorado Varlamov 17,325 35–24–5 75 Recap 65 March 4 Nashville 4–3 Colorado OT Varlamov 17,618 35–24–6 76 Recap 66 March 6 Colorado 1–2 Chicago OT Varlamov 21,508 35–24–7 77 Recap 67 March 8 Colorado 4–5 Columbus OT Varlamov 15,236 35–24–8 78 Recap 68 March 10 Arizona 2–5 Colorado Bernier 17,127 36–24–8 80 Recap 69 March 13 Colorado 5–1 Minnesota Varlamov 19,171 37–24–8 82 Recap 70 March 15 Colorado 4–1 St. Louis Varlamov 18,885 38–24–8 84 Recap 71 March 16 Nashville 4–2 Colorado Varlamov 17,273 38–25–8 84 Recap 72 March 18 Detroit 1–5 Colorado Varlamov 18,032 39–25–8 86 Recap 73 March 20 Colorado 5–1 Chicago Varlamov 21,633 40–25–8 88 Recap 74 March 22 Los Angeles 7–1 Colorado Varlamov 17,071 40–26–8 88 Recap 75 March 24 Vegas 1–2 Colorado SO Varlamov 18,042 41–26–8 90 Recap 76 March 26 Colorado 1–4 Vegas Varlamov 18,326 41–27–8 90 Recap 77 March 28 Philadelphia 2–1 Colorado Hammond 16,320 41–28–8 90 Recap 78 March 30 Chicago 0–5 Colorado Varlamov 17,985 42–28–8 92 Recap April: 1–2–1 (Home: 1–0–0; Road: 0–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 79 April 1 Colorado 3–4 Anaheim OT Bernier 17,054 42–28–9 93 Recap 80 April 2 Colorado 1–3 Los Angeles Bernier 18,230 42–29–9 93 Recap 81 April 5 Colorado 2–4 San Jose Bernier 17,497 42–30–9 93 Recap 82 April 7 St. Louis 2–5 Colorado Bernier 18,087 43–30–9 95 RecapLegend:

Playoffs

2018 Stanley Cup playoffs Western Conference First Round vs. (C1) Nashville Predators: Nashville won 4–2 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 12 Colorado 2–5 Nashville Bernier 17,301 0–1 Recap 2 April 14 Colorado 4–5 Nashville Bernier 17,369 0–2 Recap 3 April 16 Nashville 3–5 Colorado Bernier 18,087 1–2 Recap 4 April 18 Nashville 3–2 Colorado Bernier 18,087 1–3 Recap 5 April 20 Colorado 2–1 Nashville Hammond 17,504 2–3 Recap 6 April 22 Nashville 5–0 Colorado Hammond 18,087 2–4 RecapLegend:

Player statistics Final Stats

Skaters

Regular season Player 74 39 58 97 +11 55 81 29 55 84 0 34 78 25 37 62 +16 37 68 14 43 57 −15 22 79 19 24 43 −7 28 77 16 21 37 0 26 79 13 21 34 +5 50 74 15 11 26 +6 14 62 9 16 25 +3 58 69 13 10 23 −29 20 65 12 10 22 −10 26 50 8 14 22 −15 10 77 7 13 20 +4 103 † 68 3 17 20 −8 6 56 6 12 18 −5 6 58 9 7 16 +2 26 68 3 12 15 +27 41 46 3 10 13 +6 31 58 5 6 11 −6 12 ‡ 14 4 6 10 +1 4 16 0 5 5 +4 0 48 0 4 4 +4 14 6 1 2 3 0 0 10 1 2 3 +2 12 16 0 3 3 +2 22 16 1 1 2 −5 23 37 0 2 2 0 12 ‡ 15 0 1 1 −2 2 † 7 0 0 0 −1 0 3 0 0 0 −2 0

Playoffs Player 6 4 3 7 −4 6 6 3 3 6 −2 4 6 0 4 4 −3 2 6 0 4 4 −1 0 6 1 2 3 +1 32 6 0 3 3 −1 2 6 0 3 3 −2 2 6 2 0 2 −3 2 6 2 0 2 +1 0 6 2 0 2 −1 2 6 0 2 2 −3 2 6 1 0 1 +1 6 6 0 1 1 −2 0 6 0 1 1 −1 6 6 0 1 1 −2 4 6 0 1 1 −2 0 5 0 0 0 −4 0 4 0 0 0 +1 2 3 0 0 0 −3 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 2 1 58:47 0 1 0 2 2.04 33 .939 0 0 0 0 51 47 2860:40 24 16 6 128 2.68 1595 .920 2 0 0 0 37 34 2000:58 19 13 3 95 2.85 1092 .913 2 0 1 0

Playoffs Player 3 2 137:29 1 1 6 2.98 90 .933 0 0 0 0 4 4 217:04 1 3 14 3.51 120 .883 0 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Avalanche. Stats reflect time with the Avalanche only. ‡Traded mid-season Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Suspensions/fines Player Explanation Length Salary Date issued Gabriel Landeskog Cross–check against Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk during NHL Game No. 356 in Colorado on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 15:18 of the first period. 4 games $119,815.68 November 27, 2017 Erik Johnson Boarding against Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov during NHL Game No. 505 in Colorado on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 16:57 of the second period. 2 games $64,516.12 December 17, 2017

Transactions The Avalanche have been involved in the following transactions during the 2017–18 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Nashville Predators4th-round pick in 2019 To Colorado AvalancheColin Wilson To Ottawa SenatorsMatt Duchene To Colorado AvalancheKyle TurrisShane BowersAndrew Hammond conditional 1st-round pick in 2018 or 20193rd-round pick in 2019 To Nashville PredatorsKyle Turris To Colorado AvalancheSamuel GirardVladislav Kamenev2nd-round pick in 2018 To New York RangersChris Bigras To Colorado AvalancheRyan Graves

Free agents acquired Date Player Former team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Andrew Agozzino St. Louis Blues 2-year, $1.3 million Jonathan Bernier Anaheim Ducks 1-year, $2.75 million David Warsofsky Pittsburgh Penguins 2-year, $1.35 million Nail Yakupov St. Louis Blues 1-year, $875,000 Jesse Graham New York Islanders 1-year, $650,000 Dominic Toninato Minnesota–Duluth Bulldogs 2-year, $1.85 million entry-level contract Alexander Kerfoot Harvard Crimson 2-year, $1.85 million entry-level contract Ty Lewis Brandon Wheat Kings 3-year, $2.2 million entry-level contract Josh Dickinson Clarkson Golden Knights 3-year, $3.4125 million entry-level contract Pavel Francouz Traktor Chelyabinsk 1-year, $690,000

Free agents lost Date Player New team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Turner Elson Detroit Red Wings 1-year, $650,000 Mike Sislo Arizona Coyotes 1-year, $650,000 Jeremy Smith Carolina Hurricanes 1-year, $750,000 Patrick Wiercioch Vancouver Canucks 1-year, $650,000 Mikhail Grigorenko CSKA Moscow 3-year Brendan Ranford San Antonio Rampage Unknown Mat Clark HC Bolzano 1-year Francois Beauchemin Anaheim Ducks 1-year, $1 million Rene Bourque Djurgårdens IF 1-year Eric Gelinas Laval Rocket 1-year Cody Goloubef Stockton Heat Unknown Andrei Mironov Dynamo Moscow 3-year

Claimed via waivers Player New team Date Ref Patrik Nemeth Dallas Stars Mark Alt Philadelphia Flyers

Lost via waivers Player New team Date Ref

Players released Date Player Via Ref Andrei Mironov Contract termination

Lost via retirement Date Player Ref

Player signings