Now it is go-time.
The Avalanche are ready for whatever.
In playoff form, Colorado set a new franchise record with 121 points in a single season and is the 13th team in NHL history to reach 120 points during the regular season. This team is one of the best regular season teams in NHL history. Now completely healthy and they’ve only gotten faster. The Av’s are tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning with the longest active playoff streak within the last 10 years with 9 straight appearances. There are many milestones and accomplishments that Colorado was able to achieve this year, adding a few more made before the regular season officially ended.
Brock “N Roll” Nelson was awarded the Silver Stick by hitting a veteran milestone playing his 1,000th game in the NHL. This award and winning a gold medal make his trade one of the best transactions in Colorado over the past few years.
Martin Necas, for the first time in his career has reached the century mark, becoming the 3rd Czech born player to reach 100 points in a season. Entering the playoffs, Necas is also April’s “Player of The Month” with 8 GP, 3G, 5A, and 8 points. Cleary, leaving Carolina going to Colorado elevated his game and gave Colorado the better end of the Rantanen/Necas deal.
Nathan MacKinnon, for the first time in his outstanding career is the 2025-26 Rocket Richard Trophy Winner as the Top Goal Scorer in the NHL. 127 points in 80 games. Unheard of. MacKinnon also logged 97 even strength points, which is the most in 35 years. Also, the most in the league as well as the most since Wayne “The Great One” Gretzky did it back in 1990, 35 years ago. MacKinnon bossing up without a decent “McPowerplay” unit all season long makes 97 even strength points even more of an impressive accomplishment.
Brent Burns remains the oldest player at 41 years old, currently in the playoffs with a Stanley Cup. This will be his best chance of lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time. Burns is the league Terminator, as he is the oldest player in the NHL.
He also played in all 82 games this season, and he has not missed a game in 13 years. If Burns goes another 58 games without missing one, he will break the league record. Burns has played 1,007 consecutive games, making a total of 4,530 days (about 12 and a half years) since he last missed a game. The man is the Cal Ripken of the NHL. Indestructible.
Colorado has the potential to break an infamous curse to hoist the President’s Trophy and the Stanley Cup Trophy in the same season, which hasn’t been done in 48 years. It is very common that the team who wins the Presidents Trophy chokes in the playoffs. Usually, the team to win the Presidents Trophy is the best team in the worst division, but this year that isn’t the case. This division is stacked as the best division in the NHL. Colorado has had a run for the ages, with a pair of solid goalies who’ve been consistently effective.
Now for the goaltenders.
The Lumberyard. Wedgie & Blackie.
Still the best goaltending duo in the business, both received the “William M. Jennings Memorial” Trophy, which is awarded to the goalie(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against. Wedgewood and Blackwood have been a problem for opposing teams all year, and their numbers speak for themselves.
Scotty Wedgewood: 31-6-6, 2.02, (.921)
MacKenzie Blackwood: 23-10-2, 2.51, (.904)
One of the best moves the Av’s made last year was acquiring both Wedgewood and Blackwood within 10 days of each other, which might go down as one of the best heists in franchise history that led to one of the best regular season runs in NHL history. Fans were demanding Colorado to trade both goalies, and that is what they got almost immediately. Wedgie and Blackie both look more comfortable and confident between the pipes. It’s a lovely sight to see for Coach Bednar no longer having to worry about the goaltending issue that was a disaster last season.
Colorado is set to face the Sacramento Kings in the 1st round of the playoffs. The Kings had better be ready for their first game on the road at Ball Arena. Head Coach Jared Bednar is making his return with a shiner that you can’t hide with the darkest glasses, looking like he just came straight out of the penalty box. The Av’s are 100% healthy and hungry as ever for another cup run. Very scary for any team that is on the road and in the way of the Avalanche for the first few games.
Dante Robinson | Senior NHL Analyst for The NSR Network
