Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews had some harsh criticism for his team following Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Central Division's last-place Chicago Blackhawks.

"I think we got some guys that think they're playing well, and I think they're kidding themselves at this point," Toews said.

"It's frustrating to play out there when you got guys that think they're playing well, and you have no idea what play they're gonna make or where they're gonna be on the ice," Toews continued. "It's tough to play in this league when you don't know where your teammates are gonna be."

Toews played a team-high 29:50 and posted a minus-1 rating in the contest. His usual defense partner, Cale Makar, was out again with a lower-body injury, so Toews was primarily paired with Josh Manson. For his lone goal against at five-on-five, he was out with Jack Johnson.

The forward line of Miles Wood, Ross Colton, and Jonathan Drouin - a trio of offseason acquisitions - were on the ice for both goals against at five-on-five.

Toews was on the ice with Manson - as well as forwards Valeri Nichushkin and Fredrik Olofsson - for the Blackhawks' game-winning power-play goal.

The Avalanche have hit a bit of a rut lately, going 4-5-1 in their last 10 games.

On the season, Toews ranks second on the Avalanche behind Makar in average ice time and fifth on the team with 16 points in 32 games. The 29-year-old has received down-ballot Norris Trophy votes in each of the last three seasons for his two-way efforts.

Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.