NHL Central Division Race: Stars, Wild Chase Avalanche

0:00You're listening to NHL News today. Subscribe now for fast, daily updates on your team. The Central Division race in the NHL is tighter than ever with the playoffs just around the corner. The Colorado Avalanche have led the pack all season, but the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are right on their heels. These three Western Conference powerhouses have dominated from the start, and now every game counts toward grabbing that top spot and an easier. First round matchup. The Stars are on fire lately, picking up points in 13 straight games, despite injuries and the Olympic break. They just beat the Chicago Black Hawks in overtime, and edge the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1, thanks to strong goal tending from Jake Owinger. That surge has them only five points behind Colorado for first in the division and the whole league. Fans are buzzing about how crucial this battle is, as division winners get home ice and face weaker opponents early. Both challengers know they need to keep the pressure on to avoid a tougher path in the postseason.

1:00The intensity has made every night must watch TV. Meanwhile, do not sleep on the wild. They have notched key wins over the Utah mammoth, Vegas Golden Knights, and Tampa Bay Lightning, proving they can hang with anyone when quicking. Colorado still holds the edge after topping Dallas in a shootout in Minnesota, 3-2 last week. Sure, they dropped one to the Edmonton Oilers recently, but their head to head wins keep them in control. With the finish line near, anything can happen in this showdown. Support for this episode comes from our sponsor, see the description, head in, sound on, lights out, that is the routine, S-O-L-I, solelypillow.com.