The Colorado Avalanche are on track to face the Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
That situation is subject to change, of course. The Preds have a three-point lead over the LA Kings for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference. The Avalanche, meanwhile, could still technically fall out of first place in the West.
The former scenario is likelier than the latter. The Preds could still fall out of a playoff spot, with a club like the Kings or Seattle Kraken leapfrogging them. But assuming that nothing substantially changes, the Avalanche-Predators first-round matchup would happen.
Such a matchup would be the third time both teams have met in the postseason. In 2018, the Predators eliminated Colorado in the first round in six games. The Avalanche got their revenge in 2022, sweeping the Preds in four.
That mixed history is a major reason why the Avalanche must take this potential first-round matchup seriously. The Avalanche cannot afford to treat the Preds as an inferior opponent. In fact, Nashville is coming into the postseason as one of the hottest teams in the NHL.
And that’s what makes the Preds such a dangerous team. Nashville is 7-2-1 in its last 10 games and riding a five-game winning streak. They have 11 games to go and don’t have an overly complex schedule. They have games against the Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, and Tampa Bay Lightning, facing Los Angeles, Anaheim, and San Jose two times each.
That’s a very manageable schedule for the Preds, who’ll be looking to secure their unlikely playoff berth.
As for the Avalanche, all they really have to do is continue playing their game. After a bit of a post-Olympic lull, the Avs are 6-3-1 in their last 10 and riding a three-game winning streak. The goaltending seems to be getting back on track, while everyone is scoring.
So, is there any cause for concern regarding a potential Predators-Avalanche matchup? Of course, there is. Big clubs like the Avalanche are always susceptible to upsets. As long as Colorado keeps playing its game, the first round will likely be a stepping stone to a much larger and complex second-round series.