DENVER — This was one of those games where special teams decided the outcome, and it sure didn't favor the Red Wings.

Colorado scored three power-play goals, the Wings couldn't do much offensively all evening, and the Avalanche rolled to a 4-0 victory at Ball Arena on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The Wings put 27 shots on Colorado goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, who was outstanding in the first period when the Wings outshot the Avalanche, 13-5. But Colorado began to assume control in the middle period — it outshot the Wings 13-2 — and the Wings went 0-for-3 on the power play.

The Wings (7-8-3, 17 points) have lost four of their last five games and have scored three goals in the last three games — all losses — as lack of offense (particularly without Dylan Larkin), a preseason concern, is becoming an increasing concern.

Martin Necas (eighth goal) and Nathan MacKinnon (10th goal) scored power-play goals in the second period, Necas (ninth goal) scored Colorado's third goal in the third period, and Cale Makar (fifth goal) added another power-play goal, as the Avalanche defeated the Wings for the 15th time in the last 17 games between the teams.

A loose puck squirted to Necas at the post, and Necas tapped the puck past a defenseless goaltender Daniil Tarasov, making it 1-0 Colorado at the 9:46 mark in the second period after the Wings had controlled play. MacKinnon made it 2-0 with a one-timer from the flanks at the 12:30 mark, after Keegan Kolesar was sent to the box for interference. Moments earlier, Kolesar appeared to be held by Nazem Kadri but no penalty was called.

Necas batted a puck out of the air into the net to make it 3-0 at the 7:15 mark of the third period, as Tarasov unable to control the puck. Makar's wrist shot from near the high slot made it 4-0 at the 9:45 mark, after a Moritz Seider scrap with Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog ignited the crowd, though Seider earned an extra roughing penalty to put Colorado on the power play.

The Wings move on to play St. Louis on Tuesday, Nov. 10 in the second game of this difficult four-game road trip.