A couple of months ago, it seemed ludicrous to imagine any team challenging the Colorado Avalanche for the top spot in the Central Division.
But injuries and a more pedestrian performance have opened the door for other contenders to close the gap on the Avalanche. Entering Wednesday’s action, the Dallas Stars trail the Avalanche by three points.
At one point, the Avs had double-digit margins on the Stars and the Minnesota Wild. However, that’s changed as the Stars have kicked it up while the Avs have been average.
As it stands, the Avalanche are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Stars are 8-1-1. That explains why the gap has shrunk. Unless the Avs keep pace, the race for the Central Division title, and the top seed in the Western Conference, could come down to the wire.
While the Avs might be feeling a little heat, the math is on their side. The Stars have three points to make up with 15 games to go. The Avalanche have a game in hand. That game could be the difference between top seed in the West and facing the Wild in the first round.
The Avalanche and Stars will face each other two more times before the season ends. The first matchup will be on Wednesday night at Ball Arena. A regulation win by the Avs would open up a five-point lead and plenty of daylight.
In contrast, a regulation loss would close the gap to one point. While Wednesday night’s game isn’t exactly a do-or-die matchup, it is a must-win.
Falling to second in the Central wouldn’t be worst thing in the world for Avalanche
The difference between first and second place in the Central Division boils down to who the Avalanche would face in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
A top seed in the West means the Avs would face the second wild card team in the Western Conference. As it stands, that team would be the Seattle Kraken. However, the Kraken are tied with the LA Kings at 71 points, with the San Jose Sharks right behind with 70 points.
However, a second-place finish would mean running into the Minnesota Wild in the first round. Then, presumably, the Avalanche would face the Stars in the second round. Needless to say, that path seems much harder than the first.
Finishing second wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for the Avalanche, though. The Wild have been struggling over the last couple of weeks. That’s a situation the club could capitalize on.
Of course, avoiding the harder path is the best way to go at this point. Avoiding such a path begins with a victory on Wednesday night.