Feb. 22, 2026, 12:05 p.m. ET

When they return to North America from the 2026 Winter Olympics, the dominant, NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche will try to pick up where they left off. At the time of the NHL’s Olympic break, the Avalanche were atop the league standings with 83 points. They’ve lost nine games in regulation all year. They remain the only NHL team to have single-digit regulation defeats. For all intents and purposes, it is Stanley Cup or bust on the Colorado Front Range.

With the way Colorado’s Canadian Olympic trio of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews fared at the end of Canada’s men’s Olympic gold medal loss to Team USA on Sunday, Avalanche fans have to be hoping they’ll be using it for extra motivation en route to Cup glory.

First, Toews missed a point-blank shot in the third period that would’ve given Canada a 2-1 lead as the Canadians were exerting relentless pressure on the USA. A tiebreaking goal here may have opened the floodgates. It was a great save by USA goalie Connor Hellebuyck, but it’s the kind of offensive opportunity you just can’t afford to miss on:

Later, MacKinnon found himself right next to an empty net. Given the late circumstances of the game, as the USA was really only trying to get to overtime at a certain point, a goal would’ve meant an almost certain Canadian gold medal. Instead, MacKinnon flubbed the shot attempt. Brutal:

Finally, in 3-on-3 overtime, Makar drifted back rather than skating hard as the USA pressed a transition advantage. This decision ultimately gave gold medal hero Jack Hughes enough breathing room to get off the eventual game-winning goal. Yikes, to say the least:

MacKinnon is a perennial Hart Trophy candidate. Makar is the best defenseman in the world. Toews has a huge role as Makar’s top-pair partner on the Stanley Cup favorite. Canada was counting on this trio more than most of its roster. And with Canadian gold medal glory on the line, they each made a backbreaking mistake.

We’ll see whether this Olympic failure translates to a postseason, redemptive triumph for the Avalanche. It would be their second Stanley Cup in five seasons.