Avalanche Secure NHL Playoff Spot After Big Win Over Blue Jackets
The Colorado Avalanche have officially secured a spot in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. Their 7–3 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night clinched their position, and the team marked the achievement with a simple message on social media: “Built for this.”
With the win, the Avalanche improved to 47–26–4, earning 98 points and holding third place in the Central Division with five games remaining. Though they trail Dallas (104 points) and Winnipeg (108) in the standings, Colorado has been gaining momentum, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.
The win also marked a historic milestone for defenseman Cale Makar, who scored his 30th goal of the season, becoming the first defenseman in 16 years to reach that mark and only the ninth in league history. Makar added two assists, bringing his season total to 90 points, tying his career high from the previous year. Nathan MacKinnon, who assisted on Makar’s historic goal, leads the NHL with 114 points.
With strong performances from MacKinnon and Makar, and solid goaltending from mid-season acquisitions Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood, the Avalanche are positioned for another deep playoff run. Just eight years after finishing last in the league, Colorado is now aiming for its second Stanley Cup in four years, having won it in June 2022.
