Colorado Avalanche’s First Round Opponents Down To Seattle or Minnesota

By Jordan Long

The Colorado Avalanche take on the Nashville Predators tonight in Nashville.  This is the last game of the season for both teams.  This is also a rescheduled game between the two clubs that was supposed to happen on November 25th, 2022.  It was canceled due to a water main break in Nashville that flooded Bridgestone Arena.  Colorado has plenty to play for.

            The Colorado Avalanche stand 50-24-7, for a total of 108 points, 1 point behind Dallas for first place in the Central Division.  No matter the result of tonight’s game, Colorado is going to the postseason and will have home ice for 1 round.  A win and they are Central Division Champions for the 3^rd year in a row.  A loss and they stay in the 2^nd seed.  The question is who would Colorado rather face in the 1^st-round.  Their opponents are either Seattle or Minnesota.

            With a victory over Nashville, Colorado will face Seattle in the first round.   Colorado played Seattle 3 times this year.  The first meeting was on October 21^st.  Seattle beat Colorado 3-2.  On January 21^st, it was the only win for Colorado in the season series. In a shootout, Colorado  knocked off Seattle 2-1.  On March 5^th, it took overtime for Seattle to skate past Colorado 3-2.  In the end, Colorado finished with a 1-1-1 record against Seattle.

            A loss tonight in regulation or overtime would mean Dallas would win the Division and take on Seattle.  Colorado’s opponent in the first round would be Minnesota.   Minnesota of course is a divisional rival of Colorado.   Colorado and Minnesota matched up 3 times this year.  Colorado won the season series 2-1.  The only win for Minnesota against Colorado this year was on March 29^th.  Minnesota doubled up Colorado 4-2.  

            Colorado knows what is at stake tonight.  In the end, no matter the result, Colorado will begin the playoffs at home with game 1 on Tuesday and game 2 on Thursday as they look to defend the Stanley Cup. They want to advance far again.  It will be tough to do without their captain Gabe Landeskog who will miss the postseason dealing with a knee injury that kept him out all season.