Logan O’Connor understands the risk and still takes the chance.

The Avalanche fourth-line winger, shorthanded on the penalty kill, reads the opposing team and waits for his moment to strike. One wrong move toward the puck and he’s toast. O’Connor said the key is to “catch them off guard and take advantage.”

It’s working.

O’Connor executed the steal-and-score to perfection in consecutive games with short-handed breakaway goals against the Kraken and Blackhawks. He’s a big reason why Colorado remains perfect (4-0-0) ahead of a Saturday night home test against the Hurricanes. O’Connor is the first player in Avs history with a shorty in back-to-back games since Gabe Landeskog in 2013.

“You definitely have to be careful. You have to be sure. You have to read it well,” O’Connor said. “If you time it wrong, or you’re a little too aggressive, then they can maybe exploit you on the back side.”

The Avalanche PK has yet to slip — despite multiple new faces this season — with 17 consecutive kills.

“We’re skating, we’re using our speed and playing to our instincts,” O’Connor said. “Just giving teams less time and space. Especially at the start of the year, power plays are a little rusty, maybe trying to figure some things out. As a penalty kill, we can be ultra-aggressive and sort of take advantage of that.”

It’s no coincidence O’Connor is coming out hot. He spent the offseason “trying to focus on the goal-scoring aspect” after posting nine goals last season; still a career best. O’Connor wants more.

“An assistant coach always gave me a hard time because I would miss the net occasionally in pregame skates,” O’Connor said. “I’m trying to (master) little details like that.”

The fourth-line combination of Andrew Cogliano, Fredrick Olofsson and O’Connor has earned rave reviews from coach Jared Bednar, at even strength and their PK work. Bednar is unsurprised by O’Connor’s quick start.

“He works so hard in the offseason and he’s in phenomenal condition,” Bednar said. “At the start of the year, everyone is digging in and I don’t see any reason why it can’t continue. He can be a dangerous player. … He is all over the ice right now.”

Olofsson added: “When he gets hungry, and he gets going, you’re not catching him.”

O’Connor earned a leadership role in Colorado’s dressing room over fiveplus seasons. AHL roster hopefuls look up to his example. O’Connor signed in 2018 as a college free agent and embraced his role as a do-it-all fourth liner to make the team unafraid to fight or score shorthanded goals.

He’s done plenty of both recently.