Avalanche Clinches Playoffs, Eyes Division Lead

0:00It's March 29th. This is NHL News Today, powered by AI Everything Happening With Your Team. I'm Cory with the Story. The Colorado Avalanche just locked in their spot as the first NHL team to clinch the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, hitting over 100 points earlier this month. Now they're laser focused on grabbing the top seed in the Central Division and home ice advantage all the way through the postseason, battling it out. With the scorching hot Dallas stars for that president's trophy edge, fresh off dominating the trade deadline, the abs brought back fan favorite and a zine cadre from Calgary and snag Nicholas Roy from Toronto to beef up. The center depth, Roy's sideline day-to-day with an upper body tweak out for just a little bit, but the team's still buzzing from those moves that have everyone, calling Colorado the big winners. Players and fans are hyped as the squad gets healthier. Captain Gabriel Landisgod's back after a weird March injury with Arturie Lakinin and Ross.

1:00Colton rejoining the mix too. Nathan McKinnon's dropping jaws with another MVP-type year, sitting right on the 50-go doorstep and everyone's watching if he'll hit it during. This home heavy stretch, they're shaking off a 4-2 loss to Winnipeg on March 28th, so coach Jared Bednar wants a quick bounce back. This week packs three home games of ball arena. Monday at 8.30 p.m. against Calgary Wednesday, same time versus Vancouver, then a huge row tilt. Saturday at 3 p.m. in Dallas, wrapping Sunday at 9.30 p.m. hosting St. Louis. With that star's showdown, potentially swinging the division lead, the abs have prime chances to stack points and keep the pedal down toward playoff. Glory.