The once-promising Colorado Avalanche are on a bit of a swoon. The Avs lost a 2-1 heartbreaker to the Vancouver Canucks at the Pepsi Center last night after another game in which scoring was at a premium (recap via NHL.com). The Avs are now 1-4-1 over the last six games (0-3-1 at home). "The only consistent aspect of the Avs' play is that a) they are losing, and b) they are no longer going all Wilt Chamberlain on the league," writes Mile High Hockey, bemoaning the disappearance of Colorado's offense, which had been leading the NHL in scoring just a few weeks ago.

As the losses pile up, the Avs are losing ground in the NHL's Western Conference. Although they're still in second place in the Northwest Division as the season approaches its halfway mark, last night's loss puts the Avs eight points behind the Canucks in the division race and in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Denver Post thinks the team's weaknesses are pretty clear at this point and offers a recipe for righting the ship.