The Colorado Avalanche lost to the Panthers, 4-0, Saturday night in Florida. Here are three takeaways from the road defeat:

MacKinnon health

Nathan MacKinnon left the game midway through the third period and did not return with an apparent injury. He tripped on the back of the net and slammed face-first into the ice. It appeared MacKinnon was bleeding as the athletic training staff helped him into the tunnel.

“I haven’t talked to the trainers yet,” coach Jared Bednar told reporters in Florida. “You guys saw the play, right? He hit his chin on the ice and got cut open a little bit. So, he went in for some work.”

Wake-up call

The Avalanche are in a serious funk. They’ve dropped four straight games out of the All-Star break by a combined score of 16-6. Their power play is now 0 for 13 over that stretch. The Avs were shut out Saturday night for just the fourth time all season. What gives?

MacKinnon can’t do it all. He logged just one shot on goal against the Panthers, and he is without a point in three consecutive games. The Avalanche’s lack of quality depth scoring is exposed against quality opponents. They had zero answers for Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (35 saves).

E-Rod update

Traveling to Florida is a good opportunity to check in on Evan Rodrigues. He’s recorded 30 points (eight goals) this season. Rodrigues played for the Avalanche in 2022-23 before signing a four-year deal with the Panthers in free agency. It’s likely the Avs were unwilling to match that term length. But he might make this current roster better.

Rodrigues played third-line winger Saturday night and assisted on Florida’s third goal. The Panthers have won six of their last seven games as legit Stanley Cup contenders out East. The Avalanche were unable to finish enough scoring chances to keep up.

Panthers 4, Avalanche 0

What happened: The Avs were blown out for their fourth straight loss to begin a six-game road swing.

What went right: Not much at all. The Avalanche played arguably their worst game of the season.

What went wrong: The Panthers went up 2-0 in the first period with a pair of power-play goals (Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart). Their momentum continued in the second when Ryan Johansen lost Eetu Luostarinen in front of the crease, and he netted a falling slap shot. Aleksander Barkov closed the game with an unassisted goal in the third resulting from a Sam Girard turnover behind the net.

Between the pipes: Alexandar Georgiev made 39 of 43 saves. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped all 35 of Colorado’s shots on goal.

What’s next: The Avalanche (32-17-4) play the Washington Capitals, 5 p.m. Tuesday at Capital One Arena.

Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) attempts a shot against Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40) during the second period Saturday in Sunrise, Fla. 

the associated press