The Colorado Avalanche did their job on Sunday, knocking off the LA Kings in a four-game sweep. That situation clearly showed that the Avs are the team to beat in the Western Conference for now.
Of course, that designation could change in the second round. And therein lies a complex situation. Dispatching the Kings early in the first round could leave Colorado with a week-long layoff.
That layoff depends on how long the Minnesota Wild-Dallas Stars series goes. Given the complexion of that series, it shouldn’t be surprising to see it go the distance.
In that case, the Avalanche could be off until next week. Game 7 between the Stars and Wild is set for May 2. As such, the Avs could get close to eight days off or so.
That’s not something playoff teams generally like. While the layoff is crucial in keeping players healthy, there are times when prolonged time off can disrupt rhythm and flow. That’s the main concern here. If the Avalanche sit for too long, they could face a loss of momentum.
Now, there’s no real reason to think that could be the case. But judging from experience, the Avalanche may come back rusty in the second round.
But there’s a powerful reason why that may not necessarily be the case.
Dallas-Minnesota war of attrition will certainly benefit Avalanche
The ongoing Dallas-Minnesota war of attrition is something we’ve discussed previously. But this situation could be the biggest factor in helping the Avalanche gain the upper hand in the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
There’s no real indication of just how banged up Dallas or Minnesota will be following the first round. And while the winning side will take their momentum into the second round, facing a rested and recovered Avalanche team may not be the most appealing situation.
That’s something the Avalanche will need to capitalize on. Plus, whoever emerges from the Pacific Division side of the equation may also end up suffering from attrition, as well.
Therefore, the Avalanche should take this welcome rest period to recuperate. Wounded warriors like Josh Manson will certainly benefit from the time. Also, captain Gabe Landeskog and his knee could use some time off.
Other stars like Martin Necas, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar will all benefit from time off. It’s worth pointing out that Makar missed several games down the stretch due to injury. So, if there are any lingering issues afflicting Makar, the time off will help.
Lastly, there’s the matter of Scott Wedgewood. He played in all four games of the Kings’ series. Some extra rest should help him stay sharp, particularly when considering the second-round matchup could be a doozy.
We will be keeping tabs on that Dallas-Minnesota series to gauge what the Avalanche can expect moving forward.
Add us as a preferred source on Google