Four, two, three, three and two.

That’s the number of power play opportunities the Avalanche have had without scoring in their last five games. Their four chances against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday were the most they have had in eight games. Not only did they fail to pass Thatcher Demko on the PP, but the game-winning goal was ultimately scored while shorthanded.

As a result, Colorado fell to the Canucks 3-1, dropping the Avs to 18-15-0 on the season. Jared Bednar’s club is in a phase where he has scored just six goals in his last 54 PP chances.

The Canucks got three goals from Kiefer Sherwood, who led the game with seven shots. The former Avs forward scored his first career hat trick on the same night he scored his first shorthanded goal.

Colorado outscored Vancouver 31-25 and was nearly stopped from scoring by Demko before Valeri Nichushkin ended the goaltender’s shutout with just 45 seconds left in regulation. On the other hand, Mackenzie Blackwood played well, making 22 saves on 24 shots (.917 percent).

Bad: power play

The goal while outnumbered once again highlights the difficulties of an already ineffective power play. They managed to keep the Canucks from scoring with their two PP chances. But on special teams, the number of shorthanded players made the difference. Not great.

I’m not entirely sure what they can change to fix the problem. It seems like they have no choice but to keep working on it in the hope that something will eventually go their way. Why was the power play so much better when they only had one real unit? Artturi Lehkonen, Ross Colton, Casey Mittelstadt and Nichushkin have all basically been paired with the three-headed monster and nothing is working.

Good: Thatcher Demko

Kudos to the Canucks goaltender, who put in a great performance in just his third game this season. Demko missed the Canucks’ final 11 playoff games last year and was forced to play this year due to an injury. Before this performance, he had struggled in his first two games. Demko was second in the Vezina Trophy a year ago. The Canucks’ hopes of even making the playoffs will increase immensely if he is healthy and available.