Even in the dog days of summer and months away from hockey, it’s never too early to think ahead if you’re the Colorado Avalanche. Opening Night on October 7 against the Los Angeles Kings and the entire season can’t come soon enough.
This also means it’s never too early to go 82-0 on predictions – and in the season if you’re the Avalanche. All jokes aside, looking at trends and records of years past, it’s time to predict how the season will unfold for the Avs.
October 7 at Los Angeles Kings (0-0-0)
Colorado will start the year on the road once again, as they did against LA in 2023. They came up big in the nationally-televised battle, and I see a similar result.
The Kings have taken a step down, particularly on the blue line. Nathan MacKinnon might have his way with the likes of Cody Ceci and Joel Edmundson in another 5-2 Opening Night win.
October 9 vs. Utah Mammoth (1-0-0)
After one quick game on the road, the Avs will play the newly-named Utah Mammoth for its home opener. Colorado has won six of its last eight home-openers, but lost to open the year at Ball Arena to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Utah has gotten better, but I believe Colorado will want to send fans home happy to start the year. I think a big depth goal late will give them the edge over the visitors from the other side of the Rocky Mountains.
October 11 vs. Dallas Stars (2-0-0)
Keeping this one short and sweet, Dallas reigns supreme in the Central Division. While Colorado will want to get revenge early out of the gate after their defeat in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, I think the Stars hand the first loss of the season to the Avalanche.
October 13 at Buffalo Sabres (2-1-0)
The first afternoon matinee comes on a Monday afternoon in Buffalo. Colorado has started slow in afternoon games, and started particularly slow last year at the KeyBank Center. Somehow, they came back and won.
However, the Sabres are still the Sabres even with former Av Bowen Byram’s new contract. Therefore, I think Colorado will escape Western New York with an overtime winner.
October 16 at Columbus Blue Jackets (3-1-0)
Despite escaping Buffalo with an overtime winner, an opposite fate lies ahead for the Avalanche in Columbus. The Blue Jackets will look to continue their climb up the standings, and a big overtime win over Colorado will help their case.
October 18 vs. Boston Bruins (3-1-1)
Boston will be desperate to get back to the top after finishing eighth in the Atlantic Division last season. This will also be a quick one-off home game for the Avalanche before they hit the road again.
Plus, this game will be the first one back in Denver for former Av Casey Mittelstadt. Knowing how former Avalanche players love to score against them, I could see a big Mittelstadt performance leading to somewhat of an upset win.
Casey Mittelstadt, acquired by BOS, is a middle-six playmaking centre. After a promising start with the Avs last year has struggled tremendously, creating essentially no chances for himself while getting caved in. Not a checker. Needs a bounceback. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/BIOyGZ5Q3V
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 7, 2025
October 21 at Utah Mammoth (3-2-1)
The second matchup of the year against Utah comes on a short, quick flight over to Salt Lake City for the Avalanche. However, with Colorado on a slow stretch in this prediction, it continues with a loss in the matchup just a couple of weeks after the home-opener.
October 23 vs. Carolina Hurricanes (3-3-1)
Colorado and Carolina have had some fun matchups as of late, particularly at Ball Arena. Last season, Carolina visited at a similar time in the schedule in the midst of a slow streak for the Avs, where they had lost four of its last five.
The Avalanche won that game in a big response, and I could see a similar result in this predicted record to get them back on track.
October 25 at Boston Bruins (4-3-1)
Colorado heads back out East for its first back-to-back of the season in the reverse matchup against the Bruins. They’ll wrap up their season series in a Saturday afternoon matchup. While it sounds like trouble for the Avs, I think they’ll ride momentum from the Canes game and split the season series with a win at TD Garden.
October 26 at New Jersey Devils (5-3-1)
The next afternoon in New Jersey, I think Colorado will falter. New Jersey has a solid team behind them with Jack Hughes rearing to return after missing the backhalf of last season. But nonetheless, this loss would leave the first 10 games for the Colorado Avalanche with a positive 5-4-1 record.
