Colorado Avalanche secured the Central Division title and the top seed in the Western Conference on Tuesday night with a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues. The win, achieved on the road, solidifies their position as the conference's leading team heading into the postseason.
Valeri Nichushkin scored two goals for the Avalanche, including one short-handed, to propel the team to the clinch. The team outshot the Blues significantly, especially in the first period, demonstrating a dominant performance. Despite the celebratory nature of the win, coach Jared Bednar has cautioned against complacency, emphasizing the need for consistency in the remaining five games of the regular season.
"We’ve proven that we can do it when we set our minds to it."
The Avalanche’s victory, coupled with the Dallas Stars' loss, officially clinched the division and top seeding. This marks the third time in five seasons that Colorado has finished as the conference's top team. The team now has its sights set on the Stanley Cup, with the advantage of home ice throughout the playoffs a significant factor.
Read More: Lando Norris and Magui Corceiro Seen Together Two Months After Breakup Reports
The Blues, meanwhile, remain in a precarious position in the playoff race, six points behind the second wild card spot in the West with five games left. Their goalie, Joel Hofer, made 34 saves in the loss. St. Louis had previously secured a win against Colorado on Sunday.
Coach Bednar, while acknowledging the accomplishment, reiterated that the team is "not all the way there yet." He expressed a desire for more consistent play leading up to the playoffs. The team's performance has been described as "up and down" in recent games.
The Avalanche are also on the verge of clinching the President’s Trophy, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record across the league, which would guarantee home-ice advantage for the entire playoffs. The team is scheduled to host the Calgary Flames on Thursday night, while the Blues will host the Winnipeg Jets.
Read More: Philadelphia Flyers Beat New York Islanders 4-1 on April 3 2026
