Avalanche clinch spot in Stanley Cup Playoffs

Apr 3, 2025, 22:48 EDT

Credit: 5Mar 5, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates his goal with defenseman Cale Makar (8) in the second period against the Calgary Flames at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

With a 7-3 road win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, the Colorado Avalanche became the seventh team to punch their ticket to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. With the victory, the Avalanche also improved to 47-26-4 on the season, good for third place in the Central Division behind the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars.

Headlined by Nathan MacKinnon, the superstar center currently leads the Art Ross Trophy race as the NHL’s most prolific point producer this season having recorded 31 goals and 83 assists for 114 points through 77 appearances. The first-overall selection from the 2013 NHL Draft, MacKinnon has totaled 1,013 points over 12 seasons and 868 career contests with the Avalanche, underscored by three consecutive seasons in which he has reached triple-digit production.

MacKinnon’s play this season could also see him earn recognition for the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP, as could that of teammate Cale Makar. Through 77 appearances, the offensively gifted rearguard has put up 90 points. Against the Blue Jackets on Thursday, Makar picked up his 30th goal of the season, a new career-high that also made him the league’s first blue-liner to score 30 goals in a season since Mike Green did so with the Washington Capitals in 2008-09.

Beyond the forward ranks, the Avalanche saw a midseason renovation between the pipes this season with the additions of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. Since arriving from the San Jose Sharks in early December, Blackwood has won 21 of 33 games with the Avalanche while posting a .919 save percentage and three shutouts. For Wedgewood, the veteran netminder has also impressed as he has found the win column in 11 of 17 outings with a matching .919 save rate plus two shutouts since his addition from the Nashville Predators.

The Avalanche have qualified for the playoffs in each of the past seven seasons, highlighted by the franchise’s third-ever Stanley Cup championship in 2022. The Avalanche also hoisted Lord Stanley in 1996 and 2001.