The Colorado Avalanche are at risk of losing the No. 1 spot in the Central Division. But they are on the verge of being the first team this NHL season to clinch a playoff berth. Here's how.
The Colorado Avalanche could be the first team to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
With less than one month until the playoffs begin on April 18, all the Avalanche need to do is get at least one point against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, and they're in.
With the Dallas Stars creeping up on the Avs for first place in the Central Division and the NHL standings, Colorado will also try to build back its cushion at the top.
One year ago on Friday, the Washington Capitals were the first team to clinch a playoff berth. It took five days for the Winnipeg Jets to become the next team to clinch a berth, and the Avalanche eventually clinched on April 3.
Considering the Stars are now only two points behind the Avalanche, it likely won't be long until multiple teams are booked for the post-season.
Colorado does have one game in hand on the Stars, which don't play Friday but face another Central Division rival, the Minnesota Wild, on Saturday.
And the Avalanche could benefit from a hot streak right now.
They're on a three-game winless streak, having lost 3-1 to the Jets, 7-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins and 2-1 in a shootout to Dallas. They're also 6-3-1 in their last 10 games, while the Stars are 8-1-1.
Whoever eventually clinches the Central Division title will likely avoid a first-round matchup against the Wild, which acquired Quinn Hughes earlier this season and have a menacing core that also includes Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Brock Faber and Filip Gustavsson.
Instead, they would face a wild-card team, likely the second wild-card squad. Because of a tight race for that spot, it could either be the Los Angeles Kings, Seattle Kraken, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks or a squad that pulls off a miracle hot streak to sneak in, such as the Jets or St. Louis Blues.
Colorado's road game against Chicago begins at 8:30 p.m. ET at the United Center. They previously beat the Blackhawks 1-0 in November and 3-1 in February.
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