If there was one area that didn't figure to be a problem for the Avalanche, it would be the ability to generate plenty of offense. Well, guess what? The Avalanche has totaled seven goals in the first five preseason games while posting an 0-4-1 record with three games remaining before the Oct. 9 regular-season opener at Minnesota.
A 2-1 loss Sunday night to the Calgary Flames at the Pepsi Center left coach Patrick Roy saying the Avalanche will need to try a different approach.
"We might have to make some adjustments offensively," he said. "First of all, we might have to be a little more sharp in the quality of our shots, picking corners and making the goalies work and work harder. If teams are starting to play a tight box five-on-five, then we're going to have to bring the puck up and put the puck at the net and crash that net and screen in front of the net.
"It's a little different than we normally like to play, but sometimes you're going to have no choice, you're going to have to play that way until the game opens up. I think it's great what's going on with us. It's a good lesson, a learning process at the same time. We see things and it will force us to be better."
Roy tweaked the top two lines, switching right wings Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay. Iginla skated with Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon, while Tanguay was on a line with Ryan O'Reilly and Matt Duchene.
O'Reilly scored the Avalanche's goal at 3:51 of the second period when he put a move on Flames defenseman Ryan Culkin in the slot and shot the puck by goalie Karri Ramo's right shoulder to tie the game 1-1.
But Flames left wing Michael Ferland broke the tie 1:09 later with his second goal of the game by sweeping a deflected puck by goalie Semyon Varlamov. Ferland scored his first goal at 6:57 of the opening period. He was all alone in front when he put a backhanded shot by Varlamov's left pad.
The Avalanche outshot the Flames 36-24 and were held to one shot during a six-on-four advantage that lasted 1:39 late in the third period during a power play with Varlamov on the bench for the extra skater.
"We had chances all the way around tonight, but just couldn't get it rolling," said Iginla, who had two shots on goal. "You definitely want to win every game you play, especially this one at home, but at the same time we want to make sure we're improving our work and our habits, and I thought we did that tonight. If we play like that a lot of nights, we'll come out on top."
Agozzino had six shots on goal, O'Reilly and Landeskog five shots each and Duchene four. Ramo stopped 22 of 23 shots before he was relieved by Joni Orito to begin the third period. Orito stopped all 13 shots he faced. Varlamov finished with 22 saves.
"Their goalies played well," Roy said. "I think we had nine scoring chances in that first period. You score a couple ... I think it's a matter of confidence around the net. I thought we played a good game. There's a lot of things that I like right now. I like the way we're moving the puck on the power play and I thought our penalty killing was good again tonight. I thought defensively overall we did a good job. We made a few turnovers and stuff like this, but it's like everybody in training camp."
Aside from the top two lines, Roy gave decent ice time to a unit with Agozzino, Joey Hishon and Borna Randulic. Hishon had two shots, Randulic none.
"We also wanted to see what (defenseman Stefan) Elliott could do as well," Roy said.
Elliott played 13:35 and was minus-2, as was partner Jan Hejda, who logged 17:57 in ice time.
"We're trying different things and it was perfect in some ways," Roy said. "We don't have much to show for it right now, but who cares? It's not the time of year you want to put W's on the board other than for confidence, but there's no reason for us not to be a confident group. That's what I said to them before the game.
"If we just get that killer instinct getting that (extra) goal ... seven goals in five games, even if today I'm trying to defend that, it's very difficult. We're going to have to be a little different around the net. These games are there for that and it's up to us to be better."
The Avalanche's next game is Tuesday night in Calgary. Colorado will complete the preseason schedule with two games against the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings, Thursday in Colorado Springs and Saturday in Las Vegas.
This was the Avalanche lineup Sunday:
Forwards O'Reilly-Duchene-Tanguay Landeskog-MacKinnon-Iginla Agozzino-Hishon-Rendulic Schumacher-Henley-Maggio
Defensemen Stuart-Johnson Holden-Barrie Hejda-Elliott
Goalies Varlamov Pickard
***** The Avalanche announced that standing-room-only tickets for the Oct. 11 home opener against the Wild go on sale for $50 each Monday at 10 a.m. at the Pepsi Center box office. A limited number of reserved-seating tickets are available for the game and can be purchased online or in person at the box office.