Ranking the 10 Worst Playoff Series Losses in Avalanche History

The immediate aftermath of the team’s Game 4 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights has involved a lot of “What ifs” from Colorado Avalanche fans. Some are looking for immediate change while others are looking to next season as a chance for redemption for this talented group.

While the heartbreak is still fresh, we thought it would be a great time to pour some salt in those wounds. What are the worst playoff series losses the Avalanche have suffered through in their 30-year history? Here’s the worst of the worst.

10.) 2014 Quarterfinals (Lost in 7 Games to Minnesota)

A young, overachieving group led by Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene somehow managed to win the Central Division with 112 points. The home team had managed to win the first six games of the series before the Wild stole Game 7 on Nino Niederreiter’s overtime winner, ending the feel-good Avalanche season.

9.) 2020 Second Round (Lost in 7 Games to Dallas)

The COVID season was a weird one with nearly two-thirds of the league making it to the “bubble playoffs.” The Avalanche easily handled the Arizona Coyotes in the first round before losing to the Stars in the second round in Game 7 (they will be making a few appearances on this list). Ironically enough, it would be future Avalanche Joel Kiviranta who scored the dagger in overtime.

8.) 2003 Quarterfinals (Lost in 7 Games to Minnesota)

One of the last great runs for the early 2000s Avalanche. Peter Forsberg had won Art Ross and would go on to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP. Milan Hejduk captured the Rocket Richard Trophy. Yet the lasting memory will be future Av Andrew Brunette’s overtime winner ending the legendary career of goaltender Patrick Roy in the first round.

7.) 2021 Semifinals (Lost in 6 Games to Vegas)

The second season impacted by COVID, the Avalanche looked poised to take a run at a championship after a disappointing second-round loss to the Stars the year prior. Instead, the Avalanche ran into the already successful Golden Knights, who took them out in six games. It felt like one of those “will they ever?” moments for a young, talented Colorado team.

6.) 1999 Conference Final (Lost in 7 Games to Dallas)

The late 1990s are a series of “what ifs?” for the Avalanche. The Stars, Avalanche, and Red Wings had been battling for conference supremacy, and this was a seven-game war. The Avalanche took a 3-2 lead in the series before losing back-to-back 4-1 decisions to the eventual champions.

5.) 2004 Semifinals (Lost in 6 Games to San Jose)

This was one of the most loaded rosters of all-time. Forsberg, Hejduk, Joe Sakic, Paul Kariya, Teemu Selanne, Rob Blake, and Adam Foote should have led the way to another championship. Instead, they bowed out to a young but talented San Jose Sharks in what is easily one of the most disappointing seasons in Avalanche history.

4.) 2025 Quarterfinals (Lost in 7 Games to Dallas)

This one stung for a lot of reasons. After a putrid start to the season, the Avalanche rallied to finish with 102 points in a loaded Central Division. Their reward was a stacked Stars with former Avalanche superstar Mikko Rantanen leading the way. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in Game 7, the Avalanche watched Rantanen score a hat trick in the third period as the Stars knocked them out once again.

3.) 1997 Conference Final (Lost in 6 Games to Detroit)

This was perhaps the height of arguably the rivalry of the 1990s. The Avalanche were defending champions, but the Red Wings had won “Fight Night at the Joe.” The Presidents Trophy-winning Avalanche could not stop what felt like destiny, falling to their rivals in a war in the Western Conference Final.

2.) 2026 Conference Final (Lost in 4 Games to Vegas)

The Avalanche steamrolled the competition in the regular season, winning the Presidents Trophy for the fourth time in franchise history. After beating Minnesota in five games, it felt like the Stanley Cup was inevitable. Instead, a four-game sweep at the hands of the Golden Knights left everyone with a bitter taste in their mouths.

1.) 2002 Conference Final (Lost in 7 Games to Detroit)

The fifth meeting in the playoffs between the two great rivals and perhaps the last truly great series in this rivalry. Forsberg returned from missing the entire regular season to lead the playoffs in scoring. The Avalanche had a 3-2 lead, but Roy’s failed “Statue of Liberty” save from Game 6 is the lasting memory. The Avalanche never recovered, getting shellacked in Game 7 as the Red Wings won their third Stanley Cup in the rivalry.

A Lot of Heartbreak and Disappointment

If anything, there can be a positive spin put on all of this. The Avalanche have been good-great for much of their existence and found themselves in a position to achieve greatness with one or two more fortunate bounces. It also goes to show that the Avalanche were on the cusp of a dynasty several times and let it slip through their grasp.