The 2011–12 Colorado Avalanche season was the 40th overall season for the franchise, the 33rd since joining the National Hockey League (NHL), and 17th since relocating to Colorado.

The Avalanche failed to qualify for the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, finishing seven points behind the eighth-placed Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference.

Off-Season On June 16, 2011, the Avalanche promoted former player Adam Deadmarsh to assistant coach.Deadmarsh Promoted To Assistant Coach Deadmarsh will take Steve Konowalchuk's place behind the bench, as Konowalchuk has accepted the head coaching position for the Western Hockey League's Seattle Thunderbirds.

Captain Adam Foote retired.

Regular season The Avalanche retired Peter Forsberg's number 21 jersey on opening night, October 8.Avs send Forsberg's No. 21 to the rafters

On November 14, the Avalanche named Milan Hejduk as the third captain in Avalanche history.Hejduk Named Captain

The Avalanche had the fewest power-play opportunities of all 30 teams, with just 223.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 1 || September 22 || Colorado Avalanche || 2–5 || Dallas Stars || || Cann || 0–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 2 || September 23 || St. Louis Blues || 3–2 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 0–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 || September 25 || Dallas Stars || 0–3 || Colorado Avalanche || || Giguere || 1–2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 4 || September 28 || Los Angeles Kings || 6–0 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 1–3–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 5 || September 29 || Colorado Avalanche || 1–3 || St. Louis Blues || || Giguere || 1–4–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 || October 1 (in Las Vegas, Nevada) || Colorado Avalanche || 4–1 || Los Angeles Kings || || Varlamov || 2–4–0 ||

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 1 || October 8 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–0 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 18,007 || 0–1–0 || 0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 || October 10 || Colorado Avalanche || 1–0 || Boston Bruins || || Varlamov || 17,565 || 1–1–0 || 2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 || October 12 || Colorado Avalanche || 3–2 || Columbus Blue Jackets || SO || Varlamov || 8,986 || 2–1–0 || 4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 || October 13 || Colorado Avalanche || 7–1 || Ottawa Senators || || Giguere || 19,239 || 3–1–0 || 6 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 || October 15 || Colorado Avalanche || 6–5 || Montreal Canadiens || SO || Varlamov || 21,273 || 4–1–0 || 8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 || October 17 || Colorado Avalanche || 3–2 || Toronto Maple Leafs || OT || Giguere || 19,359 || 5–1–0 || 10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 7 || October 20 || Chicago Blackhawks || 3–1 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 17,523 || 5–2–0 || 10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 || October 22 || Colorado Avalanche || 5–4 || Chicago Blackhawks || SO || Varlamov || 21,328 || 6–2–0 || 12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 9 || October 26 || Colorado Avalanche || 2–4 || Calgary Flames || || Giguere || 19,289 || 6–3–0 || 12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 10 || October 28 || Edmonton Oilers || 3–1 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 15,057 || 6–4–0 || 12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 || October 30 || Los Angeles Kings || 2–3 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 12,355 || 7–4–0 || 14 ||

|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 12 || November 2 || Phoenix Coyotes || 4–1 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 12,141 || 7–5–0 || 14 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 13 || November 4 || Colorado Avalanche || 6–7 || Dallas Stars || OT || Varlamov || 11,981 || 7–5–1 || 15 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 14 || November 6 || Calgary Flames || 2–1 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 15,356 || 7–6–1 || 15 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 15 || November 8 || Colorado Avalanche || 2–5 || Detroit Red Wings || || Varlamov || 20,066 || 7–7–1 || 15 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 || November 10 || New York Islanders || 3–4 || Colorado Avalanche || OT || Giguere || 13,221 || 8–7–1 || 17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 17 || November 12 || Calgary Flames || 4–3 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 14,919 || 8–8–1 || 17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 18 || November 15 || Colorado Avalanche || 3–6 || Pittsburgh Penguins || || Varlamov || 18,483 || 8–9–1 || 17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 19 || November 17 || Colorado Avalanche || 0–1 || Minnesota Wild || || Giguere || 16,779 || 8–10–1 || 17 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 || November 18 || Dallas Stars || 0–3 || Colorado Avalanche || || Giguere || 16,091 || 9–10–1 || 19 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 21 || November 20 || San Jose Sharks || 4–1 || Colorado Avalanche || || Giguere || 15,013 || 9–11–1 || 19 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 22 || November 23 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–0 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 15,538 || 9–12–1 || 19 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 23 || November 26 || Edmonton Oilers || 2–5 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 17,684 || 10–12–1 || 21 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 24 || November 28 || Dallas Stars || 3–1 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 12,015 || 10–13–1 || 21 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 || November 30 || New Jersey Devils || 1–6 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 14,251 || 11–13–1 || 23 ||

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 || December 2 || St. Louis Blues || 2–3 || Colorado Avalanche || SO || Varlamov || 15,966 || 12–13–1 || 25 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 || December 4 || Detroit Red Wings || 2–4 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 17,014 || 13–13–1 || 27 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 28 || December 6 || Colorado Avalanche || 0–6 || Vancouver Canucks || || Varlamov || 18,890 || 13–14–1 || 27 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 29 || December 8 || Colorado Avalanche || 2–3 || Calgary Flames || || Giguere || 19,289 || 13–15–1 || 27 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 30 || December 9 || Colorado Avalanche || 1–4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Varlamov || 16,839 || 13–16–1 || 27 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 || December 13 || San Jose Sharks || 3–4 || Colorado Avalanche || SO || Varlamov || 14,374 || 14–16–1 || 29 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 32 || December 15 || Colorado Avalanche || 4–5 || San Jose Sharks || || Varlamov || 17,562 || 14–17–1 || 29 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 || December 17 || Washington Capitals || 1–2 || Colorado Avalanche || || Giguere || 16,011 || 15–17–1 || 31 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 || December 19 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2–3 || Colorado Avalanche || SO || Giguere || 14,889 || 16–17–1 || 33 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 || December 21 || St. Louis Blues || 2–3 || Colorado Avalanche || || Giguere || 15,421 || 17–17–1 || 35 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 || December 23 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 1–2 || Colorado Avalanche || OT || Giguere || 16,165 || 18–17–1 || 37 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 || December 26 || Colorado Avalanche || 4–2 || Minnesota Wild || || Varlamov || 19,290 || 19–17–1 || 39 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 38 || December 27 || Winnipeg Jets || 4–1 || Colorado Avalanche || || Giguere || 18,007 || 19–18–1 || 39 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 || December 29 || Phoenix Coyotes || 2–3 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 17,839 || 20–18–1 || 41 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 || December 31 || Colorado Avalanche || 4–2 || Anaheim Ducks || || Giguere || 15,119 || 21–18–1 || 43 ||

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 || January 2 || Colorado Avalanche || 2–1 || Los Angeles Kings || SO || Giguere || 18,118 || 22–18–1 || 45 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 || January 6 || Colorado Avalanche || 4–0 || Chicago Blackhawks || || Varlamov || 21,807 || 23–18–1 || 47 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 43 || January 7 || Colorado Avalanche || 0–4 || St. Louis Blues || || Giguere || 19,150 || 23–19–1 || 47 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 44 || January 10 || Nashville Predators || 4–1 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 14,417 || 23–20–1 || 47 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 45 || January 12 || Colorado Avalanche || 2–3 || Nashville Predators || OT || Giguere || 16,905 || 23–20–2 || 48 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 || January 14 || Colorado Avalanche || 2–1 || Dallas Stars || || Giguere || 15,838 || 24–20–2 || 50 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 47 || January 16 || Colorado Avalanche || 1–6 || Phoenix Coyotes || || Varlamov || 12,757 || 24–21–2 || 50 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 || January 18 || Florida Panthers || 3–4 || Colorado Avalanche || OT || Giguere || 13,465 || 25–21–2 || 52 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 || January 21 || Colorado Avalanche || 3–1 || Los Angeles Kings || || Giguere || 18,118 || 26–21–2 || 54 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 50 || January 22 || Colorado Avalanche || 2–3 || Anaheim Ducks || || Giguere || 14,004 || 26–22–2 || 54 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 51 || January 24 || Minnesota Wild || 3–2 || Colorado Avalanche || || Giguere || 16,291 || 26–23–2 || 54 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 52 || January 31 || Colorado Avalanche || 2–3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Varlamov || 16,839 || 26–24–2 || 54 ||

|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 53 || February 2 || Minnesota Wild || 1–0 || Colorado Avalanche || || Giguere || 14,186 || 26–25–2 || 54 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 54 || February 4 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–2 || Colorado Avalanche || SO || Giguere || 17,024 || 26–25–3 || 55 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 || February 7 || Chicago Blackhawks || 2–5 || Colorado Avalanche || || Giguere || 16,553 || 27–25–3 || 57 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 || February 10 || Carolina Hurricanes || 3–4 || Colorado Avalanche || OT || Giguere || 16,854 || 28–25–3 || 59 || |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 57 || February 11 || Colorado Avalanche || 2–3 || St. Louis Blues || OT || Varlamov || 19,150 || 28–25–4 || 60 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 58 || February 15 || Colorado Avalanche || 1–3 || Vancouver Canucks || || Varlamov || 18,890 || 28–26–4 || 60 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 || February 17 || Colorado Avalanche || 3–1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Varlamov || 16,839 || 29–26–4 || 62 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 60 || February 19 || Colorado Avalanche || 1–5 || Winnipeg Jets || || Varlamov || 15,004 || 29–27–4 || 62 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 || February 22 || Los Angeles Kings || 1–4 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 15,907 || 30–27–4 || 64 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 || February 24 || Colorado Avalanche || 5–0 || Columbus Blue Jackets || || Varlamov || 16,925 || 31–27–4 || 66 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 || February 25 || Colorado Avalanche || 4–3 || Detroit Red Wings || || Giguere || 20,066 || 32–27–4 || 68 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 || February 27 || Anaheim Ducks || 1–4 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 15,133 || 33–27–4 || 70 ||

|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 65 || March 1 || Columbus Blue Jackets || 2–0 || Colorado Avalanche || || Varlamov || 13,236 || 33–28–4 || 70 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB" | 66 || March 3 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 5–1 || Colorado Avalanche || || Giguere || 18,007 || 33–29–4 || 70 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 || March 4 || Colorado Avalanche || 2–0 || Minnesota Wild || || Varlamov || 17,354 || 34–29–4 || 72 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"