DENVER — It took the Avalanche far too long to find their game on Wednesday. Their attempt to erase a three-goal deficit failed in the third period of yet another loss, this time 5–3 to the Boston Bruins at Ball Arena. Colorado is 0-4 for the second time in team history and the first time since 1998-99.

Is it time to panic? Certainly. By the end of Thursday’s game between Edmonton and Nashville, Colorado could be the only team without a point in the standings through four games. But is the season lost? Not necessarily. The Avs showed signs of life against the Bruins and gave the team something to build on. At least that’s how they’ll have to see it now. Colorado hosts the Anaheim Ducks on Friday and looks to avoid starting 0-5 overall and 0-4 during a four-game homestand.

“There was desperation there. I wanted to see, I think we all wanted to see some desperation from the team,” Josh Manson said.

This was perhaps the most physical game the Avalanche have been a part of yet. Rookie Matt Stienburg dropped the gloves with a much bigger Nikita Zadorov in his NHL debut. He was assessed a penalty for the same play, which led to an Avs goal. Despite the positive impact Stienburg had, another attacker stood out more noticeably.

Sometimes his actions were detrimental to the team. But by the end, he almost helped the Avs tie things up.

The good: Mikko Rantanen

I am of course talking about Mikko Rantanen. I thought an angry Rantanen would ignite a new level of hockey — the kind of fire that would help pull the Avalanche out of this brutal, winless start to the season.

At first it seemed to have the opposite effect, but then Rantanen came through in a big way. He overcame some questionable calls against him and remained a deadly weapon in the man’s favor.

It all started in the second period. Rantanen was called for interference after colliding with Brad Marchand in the Avs zone. Rantanen was called for interference and was immediately unhappy with the call. It looked like an interference to me, and head coach Jared Bednar agreed the call was correct. But it also seemed like a dig at Boston’s captain who didn’t get drafted. While Rantanen complained to the referee, he eventually found himself in the middle of a scrum after he and Trent Frederic got stuck along the boards.

Boston scored on that power play to take a 3–1 lead. And on the next shift, head coach Jared Bednar sent Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon and Nikolai Kovalenko onto the ice. Would evil Mikko be unleashed? No. Boston scored again just 13 seconds later on a well-executed screen for John Beecher’s Alexandar Georgiev. 4-1.

Rantanen became the most intriguing player to watch. Colorado eventually returned to the power play thanks to Stienburg and Rantanen set up Cale Makar for a stunner from the point to make it 4-2. In the third period, Rantanen was awarded another penalty, this time for a hook on David Pastrnak. Bednar was unhappy with the penalty and called it a harmless play in the neutral zone.

The Avs weathered the storm and killed the penalty. But Rantanen was steaming outside the box. He was almost called for another penalty as he fought aggressively in the D-zone before being checked by Riley Tufte behind the Avs goal. Initially there was no penalty on the line, but after Rantanen turned and lunged at the referee, the arm went up and the Avs were back on the PP.

It only took 23 seconds. And of course it was Rantanen who came through. He put one home on the man advantage and pulled the Avs within a goal early in the third period.

That was the last goal Colorado could muster. Rantanen with a goal and two assists – all on the power play – and four shots on goal in 21:45.

The bad: Oliver Kylington

The fit just isn’t there. And I wonder if John Ludvig will be back in the lineup on Friday in favor of Kylington. The Avs’ new defenseman was bad in seemingly every way possible.

For starters, he doesn’t seem suited to play with Makar. But in addition, his decision-making was also questionable. I don’t think Calvin de Haan has done much better either. But if two of the three new guys have to play while Devon Toews isn’t there yet, it should be Ludvig and de Haan. At least for now until Kylington develops a more consistent game.