NHL-leading Avalanche bury Red Wings, 5-0

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News on Jan 31, 2026

Published in Hockey

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings' rivalry with the Colorado Avalanche used to produce must-watch games, with two deeply talented rosters that were evenly matched.

Times have changed, and Saturday afternoon's 5-0 Colorado victory at Little Caesars Arena was the latest example.

To say Colorado has dominated the Wings would be an understatement. The Avs are now 14-0-1 against the Wings since the start of the 2017-18 season, outscoring the Wings 66-27 in the process. The Wings' only victory in that span was an overtime victory Feb. 22, 2024, and they have two other overtime losses.

The Wings (32-18-6, 70 points) are winless in three games now (0-2-1) with a two-game road trip to Colorado (Monday) and Utah (Wednesday) ahead before the lengthy Olympic break begins.

The Avalanche lead the NHL with 81 points and a 36-8-9 record.

Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals, giving him an NHL-leading 40, while Brent Burns, Ross Colton and Parker Kelly added the other goals. Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood made 27 saves to earn the shutout.

Burns and MacKinnon gave Colorado a 2-0 lead with goals midway in the first period, as the Wings suffered another ragged start – a consistent occurrence the last several games – putting the Wings in a dangerous hole.

The Wings continued to struggle on the power play, going without a goal on three opportunities, and are now 0 for 14 over the last four games.

____