Colorado Avalanche

The best team in the NHL is headed to the playoffs.

The Colorado Avalanche clinched their spot in the postseason with a 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. All the Avalanche needed to clinch the playoffs coming into Tuesday's game was a single point, but they earned the full two with the win and improved their league-best record to 50-14-6 for 106 points.

✖️ – @Avalanche

The reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners became the first Western Conference team to clinch a berth in the 2022 #StanleyCup Playoffs!
#NHLStats Pack: Team Clinching Notes ➡️ https://t.co/qYoc82Gvf0 https://t.co/m3AdcrhXmK

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) April 6, 2022

Here is a look at the NHL standings after Colorado became the first team in the Western Conference to clinch a spot in the postseason:

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Eastern Conference Atlantic Division

• Florida Panthers, 102 points (clinched playoffs)

• Toronto Maple Leafs, 95 points

• Boston Bruins, 93 points

• Tampa Bay Lightning, 93 points

• Buffalo Sabres, 63 points

• Detroit Redwings, 61 points

• Ottawa Senators, 58 points

• Montreal Canadiens, 49 points

Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division

• Carolina Hurricanes, 98 points

• New York Rangers, 96 points

• Pittsburgh Penguins, 92 points

• Washington Capitals, 84 points

• New York Islanders, 73 points

• Columbus Blue Jackets, 72 points

• Philadelphia Flyers, 55 points

• New Jersey Devils, 54 points

Western Conference Central Division

• Colorado Avalanche, 106 points

• Minnesota Wild, 91 points

• St. Louis Blues, 88 points

• Nashville Predators, 82 points

• Dallas Stars, 81 points

• Winnipeg Jets, 76 points

• Chicago Blackhawks, 59 points

• Arizona Coyotes, 49 points

Western Conference Pacific Division

• Calgary Flames, 91 points

• Los Angeles Kings, 86 points

• Edmonton Oilers, 85 points

• Vegas Golden Knights, 82 points

• Vancouver Canucks, 74 points

• Anaheim Ducks, 68 points

• San Jose Sharks, 66 points

• Seattle Kraken, 50 points

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Clinching this early is welcome news for the Avalanche considering they are still missing key pieces in Gabriel Landeskog, Samuel Girard and Nazem Kadri because of injuries.

Kadri is of particular concern considering he led the Avalanche in scoring with 83 points at the start of Tuesday's slate. Head coach Jared Bednar recently told reporters the center is expected back for the postseason.

It’s just what the Dogg does. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/9fWoXAWpk1

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 5, 2022

The Avalanche have plenty of time to get healthy with the playoffs scheduled to start May 2, and they are in no danger of losing their status as the top seed in the Western Conference given their significant cushion in the standings.

They also have plenty of remaining star power in Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon to lead the way in the meantime even if the lineup isn't at 100 percent.

Yet that position atop the standings could put Colorado in line for quite the daunting first-round matchup. After all, the Vegas Golden Knights are battling for wild-card positioning and would represent a much more challenging first-round opponent than the top seed often receives.

The MANIMAL#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/zq0nfoRkZy

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 6, 2022

Vegas knocked the Avalanche out in a thrilling six-game series in the second round last season by winning four straight after Colorado won the first two. Two of those six games went into overtime as the franchises battled it out.

The Avalanche look more poised to make a deep run this season, and the Golden Knights have struggled to replicate last season's success. Still, it wouldn't be a first-round warm-up for a team that has been so dominant throughout the campaign.

Caiden Shaw, a Boston Bruins fan and Denver resident, told Bayan Wang of Denver7 that three Colorado Avalanche fans physically attacked him and shouted anti-gay slurs at him after the Jan. 26 game between the Bruins and Avs in Denver. 

Colorado beat the visiting Bruins 4-3 in overtime at Ball Arena. Postgame, Shaw went to a bar adjacent to the rink, Brooklyn's at Ball Arena, where he says that three Avalanche fans approached him and appeared to start some friendly banter at first.

However, Shaw said the exchange then became more hostile, and the Avalanche fans began spouting "aggressive homophobic slurs."

Shaw says one man got into his face and shouted a slur. He says he nudged the man to create space.

"From there, they tackled me to the ground and were calling me f----t, gay," Shaw said. "My head was in my arms, and I was kind of in a ball while they were like kicking me and punching me."

Shaw said that he suffered knee injuries, knee and elbow bruises and a knot on the back of his head. He also revealed the emotional toll of the alleged attack.

"It makes me think back to that younger kid whenever I didn't want to come out to fully be myself, and the reasons why you don't do that, and these are why you're scared to," Shaw said.

The Denver Police Department told Wang its Bias Motivated Crime Unit is investigating and it's encouraging any witnesses to come forward.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon has reportedly been diagnosed with a broken nose after suffering the injury on a hit during his team's 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, per ESPN's Emily Kaplan.

"He's still being evaluated and the team should have a better sense by the weekend of how long he will be out," Kaplan added.

During the first period, Bruins left wing Taylor Hall hit MacKinnon with his shoulder in the open ice. This caused the Avalanche forward's own stick to hit him in the face, resulting in the injury.

Nathan MacKinnon left the ice after a big hit from Taylor Hall.

In the end, Hall received a two-minute penalty for interference. pic.twitter.com/dVIn1etL8W

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 27, 2022

MacKinnon skated off the ice but did not return to the game.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told reporters that medical staff treated MacKinnon at Ball Arena before he went home. Bednar also reported that MacKinnon was feeling better and was set to undergo further evaluation Thursday.

Hall was initially assessed a five-minute major before going to the penalty box for a two-minute minor for interference upon the referee's review.

MacKinnon has nine goals and 34 assists for 43 points in 31 games for the 30-8-3 Avs, who are tied with the Florida Panthers for the most points in the league (63).

Sans MacKinnon, the Avs rolled with these lines against Boston, per Peter Baugh of The Athletic:

This will change with the #Avs playing down a man, but here is how the top nine is lining up without Nathan MacKinnon:

Landeskog-Kadri-Rantanen
Nichushkin-Newhook-Burakovsky
O'Connor-Compher-Aube-Kubel

— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) January 27, 2022

The Avs will presumably have to plan to be without one of their stars for the time being. Colorado's next game is scheduled for Friday at the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers have been shut down through the NHL's holiday break because of COVID-19 outbreaks within each club, the league announced Friday.

The @NHL has extended the period of game postponements for the @NHLFlames through Dec. 23.

Additionally, @Avalanche and @FlaPanthers games also will be postponed at least through the scheduled completion of the League's Holiday Break on Dec. 26. https://t.co/uwKuHkEhJw pic.twitter.com/d8r558IcCa

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) December 17, 2021

Calgary has already missed matchups with the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators and Toronto Maple Leafs. It will also miss games against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Anaheim Ducks and Seattle Kraken.

Colorado's postponements are for games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins, while Florida will miss contests against the Minnesota Wild, Blackhawks and Predators. 

The Flames have 19 players and 13 club employees in COVID-19 protocols. Five Avalanche players are in protocols, and the Panthers have seven, per ESPN's Kristen Shilton. 

Other NHL franchises are also experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks, including the Boston Bruins, whose matchup against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday was postponed. 

The NHL has mandated enhanced health and safety protocols amid the outbreaks across the league, including increased mask-wearing, virtual meetings and daily testing. 

ESPN's Emily Kaplan noted that the more games are postponed, the less likely NHL players will participate in the Winter Olympics. The league may need that time for makeup games.

NHL Players' Association Executive Director Don Fehr said last week that players are uncertain about participating in the Beijing Olympics because they haven't received definitive answers about COVID-19 protocols for the Games, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski. 

It's unclear if the NHL is considering a leaguewide shutdown given the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases. 

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jacob MacDonald was stretchered off the ice during Sunday's game against the Florida Panthers.

The Avalanche announced MacDonald was "alert, responsive and has full movement" and undergoing further tests after the second-period hit from Panthers left-winger Ryan Lomberg.

The hit happened as MacDonald attempted to gather control of the puck and turn the corner. Lomberg unloaded with a relatively high hit, which caused a fight on the ice when the Avalanche took issue with it.

Jacob MacDonald had to be stretchered off the ice after this hit from Ryan Lomberg. pic.twitter.com/I1QR0vqOJI

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 13, 2021

There was no penalty on the play despite the hard contact.

Sunday was MacDonald's seventh game of the season after he failed to register a single point in any of his first six games. He appeared in 33 games for the Avalanche last season and tallied nine points behind one goal and eight assists.

Lomberg entered play with six points on two goals and four assists after posting four points in 34 games last season.

Colorado was seen as a Stanley Cup contender at the start of the season and has largely put its slow start behind it with a 15-7-2 record thanks to three straight victories coming into Sunday's contest.

The Panthers entered play as one of the best teams in the league with an 18-4-4 record.        

The Colorado Avalanche's hopes of turning things around amid a slow start will be more difficult with Nathan MacKinnon expected to miss three weeks. 

Head coach Jared Bednar told reporters that MacKinnon will be out after he suffered a lower-body injury in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

Wednesday's announcement came after MacKinnon missed practice the day before. He was on the ice for 20:40 against the Blue Jackets, right in line with his season average (21:16). 

The Avalanche started the season without MacKinnon because of COVID-19 protocols. The 26-year-old missed the first two games before being cleared to return ahead of an Oct. 19 game against the Washington Capitals. 

A three-week time frame would put MacKinnon on track to potentially return Dec. 1.

After Colorado won a division title last season for the first time since 2013-14, expectations were high for the Avs. Yet they are off to a 4-5-1 start and rank sixth in the Central Division standings with nine points. 

MacKinnon is tied for the team lead with 10 points, but he only has one goal through eight games. The Canadian star has averaged 33.8 goals and 88.5 points per game over the past four seasons.

J.T. Compher and Nazem Kadri will likely lead Colorado's front-line offense until MacKinnon returns.    

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon will miss the start of the regular season after testing positive for COVID-19.

Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic confirmed the diagnosis Tuesday, saying MacKinnon is asymptomatic but will miss the team's season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.

The news came after the team announced MacKinnon missed Tuesday's practice because of the NHL's COVID-19 protocols. 

Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now reported in April that the entire Avalanche organization has been fully vaccinated. 

MacKinnon's positive test comes after the team announced last Thursday that head coach Jared Bednar had a positive COVID-19 test. 

MacKinnon's status for Saturday's home game against the St. Louis Blues is unclear, though Sakic told reporters they hope to have the 26-year-old back for that contest. 

Per NHL protocols for the 2021-22 season, players must return two negative tests 24 hours apart before they can be cleared to return. 

MacKinnon is entering his ninth season with the Avalanche. The Nova Scotia native was the No. 1 overall pick by the franchise in the 2013 NHL draft and has scored 560 points in 573 career games. 

The Avs have made the playoffs in each of the past four seasons. They won the West Division title in 2020-21, the franchise's first division championship since 2013-14.   

Gabriel Landeskog isn't going anywhere.

The Colorado Avalanche and Landeskog agreed to an eight-year, $56 million contract Tuesday, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic.

Landeskog, 28, has been the picture of consistency for the Avalanche in his 10-year career, with 20 or more goals in eight seasons and 50 or more points in seven campaigns. He was a huge factor in the dangerous Avs registering 82 points this past season, tied with the Vegas Golden Knights for most in the NHL.

Losing the 2019 All-Star would have been a major blow for an Avalanche team looking to remain a force in the NHL.

"He's huge for this team. He's the team captain, the leader," Avs winger Andre Burakovsky told reporters in late May. "The way he played, the way he showed up for every game, that's a sign of a true leader."

"Every day he does the right things, he says the right things at the right time, and then the best part about it is he goes out and does it every single game," backup goalie Devan Dubnyk added. "That's the most important part. It's good to be good leader and say the right things, but when you got a guy that's saying things and then going out and doing it every single shift you can see the guys hop on his back and follow him."

And he'll keep doing the right things for the Avalanche for the foreseeable future after agreeing to a new deal.

Cale Makar is just 22 years old and already among the best defensemen in the NHL. The Colorado Avalanche want him to remain with the team for the foreseeable future.

Colorado announced it signed Makar to a six-year contract extension that will run through the 2026-27 campaign. Pierre LeBrun of TSN noted the six-year deal will pay $54 million.

"I couldn't be more excited knowing I'll be calling Denver home for at least the next six years," Makar said in the team's announcement. "I will do everything in my power to bring a Stanley Cup to the best fans in the NHL. My Avalanche teammates are an amazing group of guys, and I can't thank them enough as they played such a huge part in enabling me to perform at my best."

The announcement noted Makar's 94 points is the sixth-most for a defenseman through the first 101 games of his career in NHL history.

The defenseman wasted no time making an impact by taking home the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2019-20 as the NHL's rookie of the year behind 50 points (12 goals, 38 assists) in 57 games and a plus-minus mark of plus-12.

Makar followed up his rookie effort as a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman in 2020-21. He tallied 44 points in 44 games on eight goals and 36 assists with a plus-17 mark.

"In just over two seasons, Cale has already established himself as one of the premier defensemen in the National Hockey League," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said. "His ability to play in all situations and at both ends of the ice makes him truly unique and we are excited to have him anchor our blueline for years to come."

Makar is a defenseman who can anchor the blue line and contribute on offense, including on the power play.

He will be in his prime throughout his time with the Avalanche now that he signed this extension and will now look to advance past the second round of the playoffs for the first time in his career.