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Game 6 Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars (7:30 p.m. MT)

Dallas Stars v Colorado Avalanche - Game Four

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

It’s another Colorado Avalanche playoff game!

It all comes down to this. The Colorado Avalanche take on the Dallas Stars in a pivotal game six tonight, as they try to stay alive in this series and stave off elimination.


Game Six.#GoAvsGo | #BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/ViQIz20XjH

— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 1, 2025

Colorado Avalanche


Colorado comes into this game needing a win to stay alive in this playoff series, as they lost game five and subsequently fell down 2-3 in the series. Getting that win will be far easier said than done, though, of course, as this Stars team will be looking to close out the series tonight. The Avs have shown that they’re certainly capable of beating Dallas; they actually have to show up tonight and play like they know they can, and nothing like they did in game five.

Projected Lineup


Artturi Lehkonen - Nathan MacKinnon - Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog - Brock Nelson - Valeri Nichushkin
Jonathan Drouin - Charlie Coyle - Joel Kiviranta
Parker Kelly - Jack Drury - Logan O’Connor

Devon Toews - Cale Makar
Ryan Lindgren - Josh Manson
Samuel Girard - Sam Malinski

Dallas Stars


After getting shutout in game four, Dallas showed up and showed out in game five to go up 3-2 in the series. Tonight, as previously mentioned, they’ll look to close out the series and move on to the second round. They’ll be without Miro Heiskanen once again tonight, which hasn’t been a very big problem for them thus far. It’s still something that Colorado can exploit, but that is far easier said than done. We’ll see if they can replicate their play from Game 5 to tonight’s game.


No Heiskanen for Dallas in Game 6.

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) May 1, 2025

Projected Lineup


Mikael Granlund - Roope Hintz - Mikko Rantanen
Mason Marchment - Matt Duchene - Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn - Wyatt Johnston - Evgenii Dadonov
Oskar Back - Sam Steel - Colin Blackwell

Esa Lindell - Cody Ceci
Thomas Harley - Ilya Lyubushkin
Lian Bichsel - Alex Petrovic

Goaltenders


As we’ve seen in every game in this series so far, it should be Mackenzie Blackwood going in net tonight for the Avs against Jake Oettinger. While Blackwood didn’t have a stellar game five performance by any means, he’s been great throughout this series overall. On top of that, a handful of those Dallas goals in game five were insanely lucky, so it’s hard to be incredibly upset at him for that. Hopefully, he’s able to find his form that he’s had for the entirety of this series, outside of game five here tonight.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...olorado-avalanche-vs-dallas-stars-7-30-p-m-mt
 
Prospect Mailbag: All that Remains

Colorado Avalanche v Winnipeg Jets

Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images

A few tidbits about the last couple of prospects in the Colorado Avalanche system.

Over the last year the Colorado Avalanche prospect pool went from limited to decimated but a few remaining players have just received an Entry Level Contract or are still candidates to do so. Therefore, let’s examine what’s left in the rubble.



Southernlightning: Can you take a look at the unsigned college players you think they are going to go after this year? They seem to find a couple each year!

Anything is possible but the college shopping spree is largely over with the NCAA season now complete. The early summer could bring a few additional signings from Europe or KHL free agents. The Avalanche did make one NCAA free agent addition on ELC with 23-year-old Cooper Gay, who is a 6-foot-4 forward from the University of St. Thomas. Gay got in two Colorado Eagles games before the end of the regular season and scored his first professional goal.


Cooper Gay’s first game in an Eagles sweater.

Cooper Gay’s first goal in an Eagles sweater.

This one’s pretty ‍
pic.twitter.com/oFBsOpyHo3

— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) April 5, 2025


RustyShackleford’sPocketSand: Based on this season, what do you think the next year holds for a prospect’s chances of making the Avs next season? I realize that what happens with the established vets and which of them get re-signed might play a significant role (does Kivy price himself out, does Brock bolt to Minny, does Dru sign a team friendly deal again).

The short answer, as you’d expect, is there’s no expectation of internal options getting real chance but there’s always the 5-10 game call up window. Those who have the best chance have been in the organization the shortest amount of time or have a reason to hold favor with the front office.

In order of graduation likelihood for this group PF forwards I’d go: Ivan Ivan gaining 40 games of NHL experience should count for something, though I’m concerned he was never called up again once the failed Juuso Parssinen experiment began. Nikita Prishchepov getting any NHL opportunity as a 20-year old was promising but next year in his second year of pro there will have to be a commitment to get him dozens of games to get on a legitimate path to graduation in year three. Taylor Makar has age at 24-years old, size and bloodlines working in his favor and should see a call-up but for anything more than that he probably would need a significant season of production in the AHL first. Oskar Olausson is at least still around but after three years in the AHL his window is shut. I’m not sure Jean-Luc Foudy gets a qualifying offer and after five years in the AHL that might not be what’s best for him.



What do you think are the necessary skills for a player to be one of those late round picks who defies the odds and makes it to the NHL?

Is there too much hype/excitement placed on college free agents? Are expectations too high for them?

— Giants in the Crease (@CreaseGiants) April 16, 2025

Both great questions. First of all, the main attribute a successful late round pick needs is puck skill. Meeting the minimum threshold of skill required for the NHL is a must. Talking oneself into all attributes needed to become a role player is where the battle is lost before it even begins. Justifications of big strong, penalty killer, fourth line faceoff ace, dependable bottom pair defenseman, etc. Those roles are usually given to veterans and if the main selling point for a developing player is these things it likely means he’s not measuring up in the skill talent department. Skilled players will adapt and finding a diamond in the rough is about identifying where competitors missed their evaluations in the skill set and upside a player possesses. Noting that a player has an aptitude for defense, physicality, and versatility are great secondary attributes but they won’t get a player to the NHL on its own. Opportunity and organizational commitment matters just as much if not more in late round picks as well.

Secondly, the problem with hyping college free agents is the thought that they are replacements for missing draft picks. College (and CHL or Europe) free agents can be a nice supplementary avenue for adding talent but it’s not a main avenue. The likelihood of getting a NHL player out of someone passed over three or four times in the draft with the advancements in scouting is low. At best you are looking at a late round pick replacement, which should garner roughly a 16-11% success rate. The Avalanche getting one college free agent to graduate every seven years would be about that pace. But if an organization isn’t hitting on league average return rates with the draft picks they do hold on to they are behind the curve to begin with. There’s no quick fixes when it comes to adding to an internal pipeline.

Jokke Nevelainen

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...o-avalanche-prospect-mailbag-all-that-remains
 
Game 7 Preview: Do-or-die for both the Avalanche and Stars

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Will the Avalanche finally best the Stars in a game seven?

It's the game day we've all been waiting for as the Colorado Avalanche visit the Dallas Stars to settle this best-of-seven, round one series with one final showdown. Can the Avalanche win their first win against Dallas in game seven? Will Dallas once again send Colorado packing?

Colorado Avalanche


It feels like a relatively simple approach, but the Avalanche need to duplicate what they did in games four and six, and they should find themselves on the good side of this matchup. Colorado was relentless in attack during game six, and although Dallas hung around, it wasn't enough for them to stay within reach.

Tonight is a night when getting the first goal, getting key stops from your netminder, and staying out of the box will prove paramount. You can't let the Dallas crowd remain in it, so let's hope Colorado comes out hot again. I'm not saying they need to have 19 SOG in the first, but 15 is a good benchmark, in my opinion.

Makar finally achieved his goal, and it was in an empty-netter. Sometimes that's the break an elite player like Makar needs. He was also in on all but one other goal and Manson's EN tally. I'll guess that he and MacKinnon rise to the occasion tonight.


Top skater from last nights games, Cale Makar pic.twitter.com/9l7EQzwB7o

— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) May 2, 2025

Projected Lineup:

Artturi LehkonenNathan MacKinnonMartin Necas
Gabriel LandeskogBrock NelsonValeri Nichushkin
Jonathan DrouinCharlie CoyleJoel Kiviranta
Parker KellyJack DruryLogan O'Connor

Devon ToewsCale Makar
Samuel GirardJosh Manson
Ryan LindgrenSam Malinski

Dallas Stars


For Dallas, it's just as simple an approach, but the antithesis of what Colorado will want to do. The Stars will focus on mitigating the damage from superstars like MacKinnon and Makar while simultaneously attempting to keep Colorado on the perimeter.

Pete DeBoer openly criticized the refs after game six and was just as disappointed in some of the bounces his club got (or didn't get). Keep an eye on how the zebras play a role in this one, and don't be surprised if Dallas draws a few with this tactic from DeBoer.

Mikko Rantanen and Roope Hintz both had four points in the second period in game six, which is an NHL record for most points in the second period. Perhaps Colorado should do a little keying of their own and focus on limiting the Moose's looks.


Roope Hintz sums up Mikko Rantanen's Game 6 performance: "Beast Mode."#TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/xHdbGihkP4

— Victory+ (@victoryplustv) May 2, 2025

Projected Lineup:

Mikael GranlundRoope HintzMikko Rantanen
Mason MarchmentMatt DucheneTyler Seguin
Jamie BennWyatt JohnstonEvgenii Dadonov
Oskar BackSam SteelColin Blackwell

Esa LindellCody Ceci
Thomas HarleyIlya Lyubushkin
Lian BichselAlex Petrovic

Note: Lian Bichsel took a nasty spill in game six and was visibly wobbly; however, he returned in the third period.

Goaltenders


We should see our seventh installment of Blackwood vs. Oettinger unless something unforeseen hits the news desk. Oettinger has been excellent in keeping his team in games when the Avalanche skaters pour it on. Blackwood struggled in game five and a bit in game six, but ultimately has been stout for the Avalanche. Both goalies will have to be good tonight if they want their team to have a chance at advancing.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...ew-do-or-die-for-both-the-avalanche-and-stars
 
Recap: Rantanen scores hat-trick, Avs implode in 4-2 disaster as Stars advance

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

That didn’t go well.

The Colorado Avalanche needed to be perfect for 13 minutes away from advancing to the 2nd round of the playoffs.

That was until an old friend turned out the lights.

Mikko Rantanen had his second four-point period in the series, scoring a hat-trick and an assist on the go-ahead goal to cap off one of the biggest implosions in Colorado franchise history. It was a common theme throughout the series for the Avalanche — coughing up third-period leads. This time, they weren't able to recover. They went into the final frame up 1-0, added to that lead early, but ended up down by two. This 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Stars in Game 7 of the First Round Stanley Cup Playoffs series Saturday evening at American Airlines Center won't be forgotten for a long time.

It's safe to say. Rantanen got the last laugh. He's just the second player in NHL history to have four points in the third period of a Game 7, and to do it against his old team has to be even sweeter. He was in the playoffs with the Avalanche for the past seven seasons and was a part of their 2022 Stanley Cup title run. But on January 25, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. He would play 13 games for that organization before being dealt to Dallas on March 7, and immediately signed an eight-year contract extension.

Rantanen snapped a shot by Mackenzie Blackwood to make it a 2-1 game. Six minutes later, he scored again on the power play when his wrap-around shot bounced off Sam Girard's skate and in to tie the game, assisted on Wyatt Johnston's go-ahead power play goal nearly four minutes later, and sealed the deal on an empty-net goal to slap his old team in the face. They traded him and went on to subsequently lose single-handedly to him. Talk about humiliating.

It's going to be a very interesting offseason for the Avalanche. The move to trade Rantanen along with a myriad of other trades was a Stanley Cup or bust move, and boy was it a bust. All of their picks from the 2025 and 2026 NHL drafts are gone, including Calum Ritchie. And Brock Nelson is likely gone this summer. This was the second first-round exit in the playoffs in the past three seasons.

But for Dallas head coach Pete DeBoer, he devoured yet again, improving his undefeated record in Game 7s to nine games. The Avalanche held a 2-0 lead going into the third period. However, Dallas scored four in the third period, three of which came from Mikko Rantanen, who Colorado traded on January 25 to the Carolina Hurricanes. The 2022 Stanley Cup champion played 13 games for the Canes before being dealt to Dallas on March 7.

Dallas made their adversaries pay for every mistake. That was the series. Dallas was missing two key players in Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson, and it didn't matter. Colorado found a way to lose again. Whether it was defensive turnovers, penalties, or failing to execute on the man-advantage, the Avs did everything to lose. And in the end, that's exactly what they did, and for the second year in a row against the same coach and the same team.

Colorado has not won a Game 7 since May 15, 2002, when they defeated Owen Nolan and the San Jose Sharks 1-0 in the Western Conference semifinals.

Jake Oettinger stopped 25 of 27 shots, and Blackwood saved 15 of 19 shots.

First Period

Colorado got their offense going to start the game, but Oettinger came up with the quick save. But 2:15 into the game, Parker Kelly was penalized for pulling down Ilya Lyubushkin to the ice. The official call was holding, and Dallas went on their first power play of the game. The Avs managed to hold the Stars to one shot on goal and killed the penalty.

Dallas' Tyler Seguin, who won the Stanley Cup as a rookie in 2011 with the Boston Bruins, was making his 10th appearance in a Game 7. He attempted to get something going early with Mikko Rantanen, but to no avail.

Colorado went on their first power play when Jamie Benn was given a double-minor penalty for cross-checking Nichushkin in the face.

As has been the case for most of the series, the Avs failed to convert despite having many quality chances.

With 6:27 left in the period, Rantanen broke free and penetrated the Avalanche defensive zone, but Blackwood gloved his backhander.

Both teams' first 20 minutes were mostly a defensive masterclass. At the end of the period, the game remained scoreless, and Colorado held a 5-4 advantage in shots on goal.

Second Period

The second frame was more of the same, but this time, Colorado broke the ice to give themselves the lead. It all went down after Sam Malinski was penalized for interference on Roope Hintz. However, while shorthanded, the Avalanche dumped it, and Logan O'Connor, who's traditionally a beast on the penalty kill, outhustled Thomas Harley to the puck on the left wing. He looked up and centered a pass to Manson, who snapped it off the post and in for the goal.

The replay showed that the Stars lost their concentration for about 10 seconds. Wyatt Johnston and Matt Duchene were caught out of position, and the Avalanche capitalized. It was a beautiful moment because Dallas had consistently punished the Avalanche throughout the series after making critical mistakes. This time, Colorado finally countered them. And it couldn't have come at a better time, Game 7.

Third Period

Thirty-one seconds into the final period, MacKinnon made it a 2-0 game when he came off the bench with a full head of steam, accepted a pass from Ryan Lindgren, drove the puck to the net, and flicked the puck off Oettinger's pads and into the net. It was MacKinnon's first-career goal in a Game 7.

With 12:11 left in the game, Rantanen got Dallas on the board when he snapped a scintillating wrister through traffic and beat him clean. And just like that, we had a game again.

The Avalanche caught a break with 9:11 left when Duchene stuck his stick around and took out Necas to put Colorado on the power play. However, Cale Makar went to the box for tripping Hintz near the Colorado net when the latter had a chance to tie up the game. But while this was happening, Necas lost his balance, crashed into the boards, and appeared to have suffered an injury, possibly to his wrist.

Rantanen tied the game at two with 6:14 to go when he scored on a wrap-around marker that bounced off Girard's skate and in for an own goal.

Jack Drury was penalized for holding with 4:11 when he took down Tyler Seguin in front of the net. Johnston scored on the following play on an assist from Rantanen to give Dallas a 3-2 lead with less than four minutes to go.

Rantanen sealed the deal on an empty-netter to send the Dallas fans home happy.


FINAL: #Avs 2 - #Stars 4

Dallas earned their chances and Mikko Rantanen got the last laugh. He apperently said something to the tune of “how do you like me now” toward the Avalanche bench after netting the hat-trick.

Ouch.#GoAvsGo

— x - Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) May 4, 2025

Takeaways

When the power play is as bad as it was this series, we deserved to lose this series. Sure, our guys got cheap-shotted throughout the series; that's true. However, we also failed to convert on a multitude of double-minor penalties, including the one on Nichushkin in the opening period. When it happens throughout a series, i.e., the same old stuff with the same response, it's no surprise that we lost, as much as it hurts to say it. This offseason is going to be a sad one indeed.

See you next year.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...-avs-implode-in-4-2-disaster-as-stars-advance
 
Game 7 Open Thread: Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars (6:00 p.m. MT)

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

It’s time for game seven in Dallas!

It’s the game day we’ve all been waiting for as the Colorado Avalanche visit the Dallas Stars to settle this best-of-seven, round one series with one final showdown. Can the Avalanche win their first win against Dallas in game seven? Will Dallas once again send Colorado packing?

Colorado Avalanche


It feels like a relatively simple approach, but the Avalanche need to duplicate what they did in games four and six, and they should find themselves on the good side of this matchup. Colorado was relentless in attack during game six, and although Dallas hung around, it wasn’t enough for them to stay within reach.

Tonight is a night when getting the first goal, getting key stops from your netminder, and staying out of the box will prove paramount. You can’t let the Dallas crowd remain in it, so let’s hope Colorado comes out hot again. I’m not saying they need to have 19 SOG in the first, but 15 is a good benchmark, in my opinion.

Makar finally achieved his goal, and it was in an empty-netter. Sometimes that’s the break an elite player like Makar needs. He was also in on all but one other goal and Manson’s EN tally. I’ll guess that he and MacKinnon rise to the occasion tonight.


Top skater from last nights games, Cale Makar pic.twitter.com/9l7EQzwB7o

— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) May 2, 2025

Projected Lineup:

Artturi LehkonenNathan MacKinnonMartin Necas
Gabriel LandeskogBrock NelsonValeri Nichushkin
Jonathan DrouinCharlie CoyleJoel Kiviranta
Parker KellyJack DruryLogan O’Connor

Devon ToewsCale Makar
Samuel GirardJosh Manson
Ryan LindgrenSam Malinski

Dallas Stars


For Dallas, it’s just as simple an approach, but the antithesis of what Colorado will want to do. The Stars will focus on mitigating the damage from superstars like MacKinnon and Makar while simultaneously attempting to keep Colorado on the perimeter.

Pete DeBoer openly criticized the refs after game six and was just as disappointed in some of the bounces his club got (or didn’t get). Keep an eye on how the zebras play a role in this one, and don’t be surprised if Dallas draws a few with this tactic from DeBoer.

Mikko Rantanen and Roope Hintz both had four points in the second period in game six, which is an NHL record for most points in the second period. Perhaps Colorado should do a little keying of their own and focus on limiting the Moose’s looks.


Roope Hintz sums up Mikko Rantanen's Game 6 performance: "Beast Mode."#TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/xHdbGihkP4

— Victory+ (@victoryplustv) May 2, 2025

Projected Lineup:

Mikael GranlundRoope HintzMikko Rantanen
Mason MarchmentMatt DucheneTyler Seguin
Jamie BennWyatt JohnstonEvgenii Dadonov
Oskar BackSam SteelColin Blackwell

Esa LindellCody Ceci
Thomas HarleyIlya Lyubushkin
Lian BichselAlex Petrovic

Note: Lian Bichsel took a nasty spill in game six and was visibly wobbly; however, he returned in the third period.

Goaltenders


We should see our seventh installment of Blackwood vs. Oettinger unless something unforeseen hits the news desk. Oettinger has been excellent in keeping his team in games when the Avalanche skaters pour it on. Blackwood struggled in game five and a bit in game six, but ultimately has been stout for the Avalanche. Both goalies will have to be good tonight if they want their team to

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...olorado-avalanche-vs-dallas-stars-6-00-p-m-mt
 
NHL 25: Nichushkin scores twice, Avalanche advance to Second Round

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

It was another classic Game 7 battle between the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars.

The Colorado Avalanche will advance to the Second Round of the Playoffs with a win over the Dallas Stars.

Per NHL 25, Colorado and Dallas will engage in another battle for the ages that saw both teams score twice in the third period. However, with the score tied 2-2 with 2:17 left in the game, Valeri Nichushkin scored off a feed from Gabriel Landeskog to give Colorado the lead. Nichushkin would score again on the next play and the Avalanche defeated the Stars 4-2 at American Airlines Center.

Nichushkin finished the night with two goals, Landeskog had three assists, and Cale Makar had two assists. Brock Nelson and Sam Girard also scored for Colorado. Roope Hintz and Wyatt Johnston scored for Dallas.

Jake Oettinger stopped 38 of 42 shots and Mackenzie Blackwood stoned 23 of 25.

First Period

As has been the case for most of this series, the Avalanche dominated puck possession in the opening period, but struggled to get pucks in the net as Oettinger continued to be a stone wall. The first period went scoreless, with Colorado holding an 11-7 advantage in shots on net.

Landeskog and Lehkonen each had two shots on net. MacKinnon, Nichushkin, Coyle, and Kiviranta each had a shot on net. Nichushkin had a great opportunity after firing a wrister from the slot, but it was gloved by Oettinger.

Second Period

Just under five minutes into the period, the Avalanche went on their first power play of the game when Thomas Harley was penalized for cross-checking Brock Nelson. Colorado failed to score on the man-advantage, but did have a couple of shots on net. The Avs subsequently went on another power play when Mikko Rantanen cross-checked Sam Girard in the lower back. And while the second PP opportunity also ended without a goal, Colorado still managed to score when Girard carried the puck through the neutral zone and penetrated the Dallas D to score a goal. However, the shenanigans from Dallas continued when Esa Lindell was sent to the box for tripping. The Stars killed off that penalty as well.

Dallas went on their first power play of the night when Sam Malinski was sent to the box for holding. However, Rantanen would get penalized again, resulting in some 4-on-4 action. With 2:23 left in the frame, Matt Duchene zipped a wrister from the slot, but it was gloved by Blackwood.

Brock Nelson was credited with a goal to make it 2-0 Colorado when Lindell tried to clear the puck in front of his own net, but a check from Gabriel Landeskog caused him to knock it into his own net. Well, wouldn’t that be something?

We went to the third period with the Avalanche holding a 2-0 lead and a 21-15 shot advantage.

Third Period

Dallas scored 26 seconds into the third period when Hintz knocked in a rebound after Rantanen’s initial shot bounced off Blackwood’s pad.

Approximately three minutes later, the Stars tied the game when Jamie Benn skated the puck through the neutral zone and connected with Johnston, who faked the backhand before going 5-hole to sneak the puck by Blackwood.

After failing to convert on another power play, Colorado aught another break when Hintz was sent to the box for holding MacKinnon. With 40 seconds left on the PP, Necas one-timed a shot, but it was stopped by Oettinger.

With under three minutes left in the game, Oettinger sprawled out to make a diving save, but missed the puck. Nichushkin went for the loose puck, but got tied up in front of the net and couldn’t make the shot. However, after they regrouped, Landeksog fed him in the slot and this time the big man didn’t miss. And with 2:17 left in the game, Colorado took a 3-2 lead. Nichushkin followed up with another goal with less than a minute to go.

With 42 seconds left on the board, Dallas pulled Oettinger for the extra attacker. The Stars poured it on at the end of the game, but Blackwood held off the rush. The Avalanche win Game 7 and advance to the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Takeaways

Please score a goal on the power play. That’s all we’re asking.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...cores-twice-avalanche-advance-to-second-round
 
Opinion: Rantanen trade blew up in our faces, fire Bednar and MacFarland

NHL: Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche

Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

It’s just a business after all, right?

This organization needs a fresh start, and it starts by breaking a few hearts.

It starts with GM Chris MacFarland. When he makes the right moves on the battlefield, MacFarland comes off as a genius, but like most of your friends were while playing Call of Duty Zombies, the quick trigger finger would come back to bite the team, and occasionally, he’d end up shooting his own guys.

On January 25, MacFarland shot the heart of this team when he traded Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes. In return, we got Martin Nečas, Jack Drury, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick. Oh, those draft picks are also gone; we let those walk to get Brock Nelson in a trade with the New York Islanders. However, we also gave up Oliver Kylington and top prospect Calum Ritchie.

All this was done for a shot for another run at a Stanley Cup with a window closing quickly. But for the second straight season and for the third time in the last six years, the Colorado Avalanche were eliminated in the playoffs by the Dallas Stars. It’s also the third time in the past five years that the Avs were eliminated by Stars head coach Pete DeBoer, who was also behind the bench when Colorado was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs in 2021 by the Vegas Golden Knights. The pain doesn’t stop there as DeBoer eliminated the Avs in 2019 as coach of the San Jose Sharks, too.

MacFarland really outdid himself this time. He traded Rantanen to Carolina over a nugatory amount of money. $500,000 is all that was needed to satisfy one of the NHL’s best players, but instead, he traded him to Carolina, only for the Canes to flip him to Dallas after 13 games. This isn’t just the worst trade in Avalanche history; it might be the worst trade in the modern era of the NHL.

Rod Brind’Amour was probably right. Rantanen wanted nothing to do with the Canes. He was perhaps heartbroken and felt betrayed. Who wouldn’t after 10 years. Therefore, Rantanen wanted to be on a team with the best chance of inflicting pain on the Avalanche organization. What better option than the Stars.

Mikko manifested this moment and took everything out on the organization that abandoned him. And honestly, good for him.

And yes, this friendly fire incident was one that MacFarland will never be able to live down.

Colorado Got Exposed

Consistency, whether it’s hockey, baseball, football, or even racing, makes a championship team. This writer comes from the fighting world. There are so many cases where top fighters lose a match, and the first thing they do is fire their trainer and hire a new one. 99% of the time, those fighters never reach their full potential. That chemistry between fighter and trainer is the bread and butter; the same goes with hockey players. That brotherhood is built and developed over a sustained period of time. It requires a special bond to produce something as rare and esteemed as a Stanley Cup championship. You can’t add a new ingredient to the sauce with abandon and possibly think that people loyal to your restaurant for years won’t notice that something seems a little off with the taste. No disrespect to Nečas or Drury, or Nelson, they’re all solid players, but it takes time to build chemistry. You can’t expect to bring in a bunch of random players late in the season and expect for magic to be unearthed. This isn’t The Mighty Ducks.

When healthy, Rantanen was averaging about 94 points a season for the Avalanche. Why risk it? This was the video game equivalent of clicking the fantasy draft button on franchise mode and praying you’d get a line of studs.

Long story short, MacFarland needs to be fired.

Jared Bednar

Bednar is a good man and a solid coach, but he’s not a great coach. Take a young fighter with a lot of power, for instance, and put him up against an experienced former world champion who can weather a storm. The young fighter lights up the older fighter for the first four rounds. The young guy thought he’d take his adversary out early. Well, he’s still there, and he’s getting stronger as the rounds go on. The young fighter only knows one way to fight, going forward. On the other end of the ring, his enemy has 15 different tools in the toolbox. He can box; he can bang; he can tie you up on the inside; he can lean on you and wear you down, etc. This is how it’s been for Bednar against Pete DeBoer because he doesn’t make adjustments. That younger fighter always played his cards too early, and the more experienced warrior was able to stop him late. The difference is that in hockey, it’s a seven-game series and despite having the extra opportunities, Colorado continuously blew third period leads because we went out there with the same plan basically each game and expected different results.

Game 7’s have traditionally been a sore spot for the Avalanche since 2002, and in particular, with Dallas. Joel Kiviranta, who ironically is on our team now, scored a hat-trick in Game 7 of 2019-2020 postseason, Matt Duchene sent us home last year, and Rantanen made us miserable for another offseason. And with that, probably for the remainder of his contract with Dallas.

As great as Bednar has been for this team, he’s won a championship in every level of hockey he’s coached, but it’s time to go. We’re not moving in a solid direction, and we keep repeating the same cycle every season. Thank you for all you’ve done, Coach.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...fire-bednar-and-macfarland-colorado-avalanche
 
Morning Flurries: Ray Bennett is gone

NHL: DEC 05 Avalanche at Flyers

Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

One change is set in motion for next season.

The Colorado Avalanche found their scapegoat as it was revealed at the start of the Chris MacFarland and Joe Sakic press conference that assistant coach Ray Bennett was let go. No discussion on who or what they are looking for in a replacement behind the bench nor a timeline for replacement. It will be a significant change as Bennett has been with the organization since 2017.


Joe Sakic to Avs media members:

“We’re hoping that a change of voice might help our powerplay next year.”

“Listen if you got Cale Makar (and) Nathan MacKinnon your window is open”#GoAvsGo | @MileHighHockey

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) May 6, 2025

The power play was a sore spot for a lot of reasons but scoring just three goals in 22 chances wasn’t getting the job done. It’s interesting MacFarland referenced the third period collapsed but there wasn’t much said beyond that.


MacFarland said it wasn't about officiating. They had three third-period leads and crucial powerplays and couldn't get the job done.

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) May 6, 2025

As far as the injury tally, the Avalanche never reveal much in the way of details other than they said just some minor bumps and bruises. MacFarland did admit Ross Colton was dealing with a groin injury.

You can watch the full 30 minute presser here. A lot of talk about depth but not too much on how to retain or build on what they are left with.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...valanche-morning-flurries-ray-bennett-is-gone
 
MHH Roundtable: Reactions to another early exit

Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars Game 3 NHL Playoffs

Photo by Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Picking up the pieces after yet another Game 7 loss.

After a stunning loss in Game 7 to the Dallas Stars, it’s an abrupt end to the season for the Colorado Avalanche. We will have a whole offseason to dissect what went wrong and where the team goes from here but these are our initial reactions.

Who was your round one MVP?​


Adrian: Nathan MacKinnon is the one player in the top six who was lights out every single game of this series. He’s been physical, pesky, and dynamic in moments where his team needed him the most.

Jackie: Mikko Rantanen…too soon? Ok, Logan O’Connor picked a good time to get hot and put up a third of his season’s output with six points in seven games. He elevated his play even if it was just a hot streak at the right time and it almost worked to get the Avalanche through the round.

Jess: Logan O’Connor for sure. What Jackie said, he picked a great time to get hot and elevated his play when it mattered the most, which is more than you can say for some other players on the roster. I’ll give an honorable mention to Josh Manson too, while he certainly had his nervous moments since these were his first games back from an injury to end the regular season, there’s no denying that his style of play is kind of perfect for the playoffs, and I thought he had a fair amount of positive moments as well.

Ezra: The fact we can realistically only choose between between MacKinnon and O’Connor for their on-ice play is why we lost the series, but I’m going Gabriel Landeskog because the silver lining to all this disappointment is getting to see him back in uniform in an NHL game. On top of that, he was genuinely the Avs best player in most of the games he played. Simply incredible to see.

Who was your greatest round one disappointment?​


Adrian: Brock Nelson was brought in to be the answer at 2C at least for the cup run, but he didn’t perform to that tune. I’m very curious to know whether the Avalanche will re-sign Nelson and retain his services. As it sits right now, it sure feels like they will let him test free agency.

Jackie: Jonathan Drouin’s disappearing act that put him in a position to only play seven minutes in Game 7 was a big concern. When relying on all this “great depth” you can’t start throwing away top six forwards. He certainly won’t return now and you have to wonder did Bednar get to hasty with a guy who could have helped provide more scoring.

Jess: Every single Colorado player who played on a powerplay throughout this series, and it’s not even close.

Ezra: It’s Nelson. I said before the series if he can’t produce they can’t win, and lo and behold literally one goal from him in game 2 or 3 could have been the difference. His line was strong defensively, and that is part of the vision for bringing him in, but he needed to put points on the board to be a real success in his role and it didn’t happen.

What was this team’s fatal flaw?​


Jackie: It’s not a matter of calls, bounces or luck. It certainly was a close series but what the Avalanche lacked all year was consistency. They’d look great at times but could never do it consistently enough against good teams. That’s the difference between good and great teams, it feels like they are so close but that’s why they were never contenders. You don’t find consistency by getting a bunch of hired hands either. There are no shortcuts to building a champion and the final step from good to great is often the toughest.

Jess: For this series specifically, I kind of touched on it in my answer to the previous question, but the power play was a massive disappointment. Yes, Dallas has one of the best penalty kills in the league, but still, going 3-22 is just unacceptable. Watching them just pass the puck a million times before turning it over and having to reset was like watching the definition of insanity personified. I just can’t understand why they were so stubborn to change their approach on the power play, despite everyone in the world knowing that they were going to try that slot pass every single attempt, which made it very easy to counter. This isn’t the same thing, but when I got a bad grade on an exam in one of my university classes, I changed my study habits and got the outcome I desired. Making changes isn’t a bad thing at all, and in many cases, can get you your desired outcome. And I sincerely hope that they change something about the power play because you cannot have that happen in a series again.

Ezra: I completely agree with Jess, it’s the powerplay. Special teams as a whole were a disaster in this series, as they couldn’t get a big goal when they needed it with the man advantage, or a big kill when they needed it down a man. Two shorthanded goals paper over some of the PK miscues, but those need to be the gravy not the main course. The main course on both special teams was a big pile of pig slop.

Who are you now rooting for to win the Stanley Cup?​


Jess: I think either Washington, Florida, or Toronto. If Toronto ends up being the team to bring the Cup back to Canada before Edmonton wins one with McDavid would be incredibly funny to watch.

Jackie: They are probably still too young to go all the way but the Washington Capitals are a fun team to watch. I’ve always had a soft spot for the Carolina Hurricanes, too. So whoever comes out of the Metro division I’ll probably be rooting for.

Ezra: I don’t like anyone left in the West and I can’t root for Florida despite how much I like Aleksander Barkov, so I’m going to have to root for a team I don’t believe can actually win the cup and that might as well be Toronto I guess. I’m too disappointed in Colorado to watch other hockey with any enthusiasm right now.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...er-early-exit-colorado-avalanche-dallas-stars
 
5 biggest questions heading into the Avalanche offseason

Detroit Red Wings v Colorado Avalanche

Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images

Breaking down the burning questions that must get answered this summer.

With the long offseason ahead there will be plenty of time to dissect where the Colorado Avalanche go from here but for now these following five issues loom the largest on the horizon. As always, roster construction and contracts play the biggest part

Is Landeskog really back for good?​


The captain’s playoff return was admirable and impactful but the question now turns to will this continue? It matters for roster construction purposes moving forward and the allocation of his $7 million cap hit, to which Chris MacFarland indicated they are planning on having Landeskog’s services. We’ve seen the comeback and nothing on the ice showed us why Landeskog shouldn’t be counted on as a 2025 training camp full-participant but following through on that is still a big part of the offseason equation.

What will Martin Necas sign for?​


Lost in the Mikko Rantanen trade narratives is the fact that a huge part of the transaction from the Colorado perspective revolves around securing Necas’ services into the future. He is signed at a reasonable $6.5 million for the 2025-26 season but then he will be an unrestricted free agent from there. Surely the Avalanche know he’s due a big raise and are prepared to pay it but they still have to get it done with a player who has UFA leverage and a history of tough negotiations with Carolina. After setting a career high 83 points, good for top 20 in league scoring, plus five additional points for Colorado in the playoffs, Necas is going to get a significant contract if the Avalanche want to keep him long-term.

Who is coming back and who isn’t?​


As usual there’s a long list of pending free agents the Avalanche have to make decisions on and then negotiate with before they hit unrestricted free agency on July 1st. Brock Nelson headlines this list and will not be an easy player to retain with a high price tag rumored to be upwards of $7 million per year and lots of outside interest ahead even if the 59-day stay in Colorado made any impression on the 33-year old. The Avalanche spent the farm to acquire Nelson but his overall fit and performance varied. Still, Nelson won’t be easy to replace in that elusive second line center position so it’s a big decision ahead for the Colorado front office.

Ordinarily Jonathan Drouin would have headlined this group but after finishing top five in scoring on the team he was relegated to the doghouse playing just under eight minutes in the decisive game seven loss against Dallas. It’s hard to imagine Drouin’s ask and Colorado’s offer will match up moving forward. Joel Kiviranta also might have priced himself out with 16 goals in a career year especially if another team believes that production can continue.

Others with expiring contracts include fellow rental in defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who is probably looking for a raise on his current $4.5 million salary and should have heavy interest on the market as well. Is Erik Johnson’s return to Colorado (and career) now over after he sat in the press box for the final five games of the series or will he get one more year on the cheap to have a last hurrah? Depth forward Jimmy Vesey is the other rental who could return but after he didn’t get in any playoff games there likely isn’t much mutual interest.

Is Sam Malinski really part of the plan?​


Separate from previous group is Restricted Free Agent Sam Malinski who also needs a new contract. Good news is he can’t walk to the market but Malinski now holds arbitration rights as his two-year contract expires. The value to place on him is tricky as the right-shot defenseman established himself as a NHL player with 76 games played in the regular season but saw his production fall to just 15 points on the year. Part of it was due to shooting 1% for a good portion of the season but still, the Avalanche won’t have to pay up for what was missing.

If Malinski is seen as an important depth piece moving forward he’s not difficult to sign but if the organization only wants cheap veteran depth on league minimum pricing then he’s going to price himself out of Colorado. The level of trust seemed to fluctuate on Malinski as well but he’s the only different type of “young” defenseman, who is set to turn 27 years-old this summer, that provides a spark and high pace of play at their disposal.

Will Ilya Nabokov come to Colorado?​


All parties have been playing this coy but the Avalanche haven’t hidden their interest in getting their top remaining prospect in Russian goaltender Ilya Nabokov under contract. It shouldn’t impact the NHL tandem with Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood set to return next season but getting Nabokov to North America presumably for a season in the AHL would be a big step in realizing his NHL potential. The date to watch is June 1st as that's now the date KHL contracts officially expire and if all parties want to make this move a contract should materialize quickly.


MacFarland says they've had discussions with Nabokov's agent and they'd like to get him over.

I reported a week ago that Nabokov needed a bit more time to decide whether or not he'll come to North America next season.

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) May 6, 2025

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025/5/8/24424760/colorado-avalanche-offseason-burning-questions
 
Opinion: Ray Bennett Was A Scapegoat For Colorado’s Shortcomings

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Colorado Avalanche at Tampa Bay Lightning

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Ray Bennett deserved to be fired, but the team continues the trend of blaming one individual for an entire year of disappointment.

Ray Bennett deserved to be let go years ago.

The Colorado Avalanche are still mourning Saturday’s loss to the Dallas Stars, as they coughed up a two-goal lead in the third period of Game 7. At the same time, former Avs superstar Mikko Rantanen almost single-handedly dealt his former team all of the misery they could handle as he and the Stars advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

Whenever Colorado comes up short, you can almost guarantee someone will get blamed for everything. For the last several years, Valeri Nichushkin was the scapegoat. He missed the final five games of their first-round series, which ended with the Avs losing to the Seattle Kraken in seven games. The following season, he failed a drug test in the middle of their second-round playoff series against the Stars and missed the final three games as his team was eliminated in Game 6.

The Power Play Has Been Bad For Years

This time, Nichushkin wasn’t the issue, but the blame torch had to be moved to another source. This time, Ray Bennett got burned. But unlike Nichushkin, Mr. Bennett is no longer employed with the Colorado Avalanche. He was in charge primarily of the power play and forwards, and the Avs went 3/22 on the man advantage in their series against Dallas. With that said, he deserved to get fired. There’s no argument about that, but people don’t seem to realize that the power play has been dreadful for years, particularly in the postseason.

Again, the media zeroed in on Nichushkin’s struggles and blamed him exclusively for losing to an expansion team in the playoffs. What went nearly completely unnoticed was the fact that the power play in that series scored just two goals on 18 attempts. That’s 11% compared to the 13% success rate we just witnessed. Bennett had been on the staff since 2017, and, oddly, he’s now just being questioned for his lack of performance.

Bednar Survives — For Now

Without hesitation, general manager Chris MacFarland gave Jared Bednar a vote of confidence at Tuesday’s end-of-season press conference — “100% confident Jared’s our head coach,” he stated.

If Colorado falls short again next season, when does the torch eventually descend upon Bednar’s personal space? When will it affect MacFarland? It all depends on what happens this offseason. Could CMac restructure this team into a contender over the next several months? Possibly. If they can retain a few guys and steadily improve the depth, it’s certainly doable, but regardless of whether CMac is successful, there’s no coming back from how the Rantanen trade played out. The new house may have some upgraded upholstery and a few other items in the future, but no one will forget how he burned the old house down and destroyed the brotherhood along with it.


Mikko Rantanen wanted to come to Dallas to “jam it down Colorado’s throat” by making them face him multiple times in the regular season and playoffs, per @RealKyper pic.twitter.com/Rx0Ta2BVnl

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 8, 2025

Team president Joe Sakic also accompanied CMac for the presser, which was interesting considering that the former two-time Stanley Cup champion hasn’t spoken publicly in this fashion since he was in MacFarland’s position in 2022. In a sense, it seemed like Sakic was giving CMac an off-hand vote of confidence. When you look at it from that perspective, MacFarland may be feeling a little uneasy, which he should be at this juncture.

Takeaways

Colorado needs to dispel this losing mindset. For years, it’s been about one person being responsible for the team’s struggles, putting them in an inferior position. Let’s analyze every position, whether the players or the staff, and revise accordingly. This will put us ahead of the bar. But if we continue this trend of denouncing one individual, it will be an endless stream of excuses and failures.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...capegoat-for-colorado-avalanches-shortcomings
 
MacKinnon refuses to criticize execs for Mikko trade ahead of World Championships

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

MacKinnon instead took the time to praise Rantanen rather than go scorched earth on his bosses.

Nathan MacKinnon kept it classy.

Some leaders have the brazenness to call out their management publicly when they disagree with a team decision; we saw that with Dylan Larkin, but when given the opportunity, MacKinnon took the high road ahead of the 2025 IIHF men’s World Championship in Stockholm, Sweden, where he will represent Team Canada alongside good friend and rival, Sidney Crosby.

MacKinnon Praises Rantanen

MacKinnon was pressured to answer whether the Colorado Avalanche made a mistake by trading Mikko Rantanen. The organization dealt the superstar right winger on January 25 to the Carolina Hurricanes, which then shipped him to the Dallas Stars at the trade deadline after they unsuccessfully attempted to sign him to a long-term deal.

Upon landing in Dallas, Rantanen signed an eight-year, $96 million contract extension. Fueled by spite, and rightfully so, the Finnish player set his sights on wrecking the team that traded him. That he did. Rantanen scored eight points combined in Game 6 and Game 7 of the first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series against Colorado, including a hat trick—all in the third period—in the finale to send his old team packing.

Rantanen continued his hot streak in Game 1 of the Stars’ Second Round series against the Winnipeg Jets, scoring three consecutive goals in the second period en route to a 3-2 victory for Dallas. Rantanen became the first player in NHL history to score back-to-back hat tricks in a single period in the postseason. He also became the third player in NHL history to score consecutive hat tricks in the playoffs, the first since Hall of Famer Jari Kurri, who achieved the feat with the Edmonton Oilers in Games 5 and 6 of the 1985 Clarence Campbell Conference Final. The last player to do it before Kurri was Doug Bentley, who reached the pinnacle with the Chicago Blackhawks in Games 4 and 5 of the 1944 semifinal.

All of this would seem to indicate the Avalanche made a grave error, but rather than denigrate the individuals who sign off on his checks, MacKinnon shared some thoughts on his former teammate.

“It’s tough to say,” MacKinnon said via The Hockey News’ Remy Matsey. “I can’t really give you an answer. I don’t know. Obviously, I’d love to have him on the team, but he’s not on the team, so I don’t really know what to say. Definitely miss him. Obviously, he scored a hat trick on us in Game 7. Amazing player and great friend as well.”

MacKinnon and Rantanen were both drafted by Colorado and played side-by-side for more than a decade in a partnership that saw the highest of highs when they won a Stanley Cup together in 2022 to an all-time low in the 2016-17 season when the Avalanche accumulated just 48 points.

“He’s an amazing player,” MacKinnon said. “As you know, he did so much for our team, so no surprise that he’s dominating. Yeah, he’s been playing great.”

There was also a quick discussion about how the Avalanche lost against the Stars in Game 7 of the first round.

Although MacKinnon gave credit to Dallas for knocking them out of the playoffs for the second straight season under the tutelage of head coach Pete DeBoer, he couldn’t help but wonder if his team could have pulled it off if they weren’t whistled for a few costly penalties.

“They just don’t go away,” MacKinnon said. “I thought, overall, we had a good series. We played well enough to win. Obviously up 2-0 with 10 minutes left. I think some of those penalties were, I don’t know if those are playoff Game 7 penalties, but it is what it is. I feel like our team is close. You know, it’s a first-round loss, but it’s a pretty good team we played.”

It’s hard to say the Avalanche and Stars have a rivalry. At this point, it’s just an abusive relationship. Maybe if the Avalanche win a series against them it will be a rivalry.

While Dallas has a shot to score their first Stanley Cup championship in 26 years, MacKinnon zeroes in on the World Championship. Team Canada squares off against Team Slovakia at 6:20 a.m. ET on Saturday in their opening matchup.

Takeaways

MacKinnon probably did the right thing by choosing not to take the scorched earth approach. Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman, who currently serves as the GM of the Detroit Red Wings, always led their teams with class. Dylan Larkin’s decision to call out Yzerman at their end-of-season press conference for their supposed lack of effort at the trade deadline didn’t appear to sit well with Yzerman. And had MacKinnon followed suit, Sakic likely would have had a similar reaction.

As painful as the end of this season was, MacKinnon made the difficult but wise choice, albeit its abundantly clear to almost everyone now that Rantanen shouldn’t have been traded.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...head-of-world-championship-colorado-avalanche
 
MacKinnon scores three points, Team Canada shuts out Team Slovenia

NHL: 4 Nations Face Off-Championship Game

Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

MacKinnon hasn’t officially had an offseason yet.

Nathan MacKinnon played a hand in Team Canada’s shutout victory over Team Slovenia in the opening game of the World Hockey Championship.

It was a one-sided matchup from the onset Saturday morning as Canada outshot Slovenia 44-11, with MacKinnon scoring three points (one goal, two assists) en route to a 4-0 victory.


| Bo Horvat scored twice, plus Nathan MacKinnon had a three-point game, as shut out 4-0 to open #MensWorlds.

| Bo Horvat marque deux buts, Nathan MacKinnon inscrit trois points, et le blanchit la 4-0 en ouverture du #MondialMasculin. pic.twitter.com/pce4kQAz5H

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) May 10, 2025

Although New York Rangers prospect AHL goaltender Dylan Garand didn’t face much adversity, he made some impressive saves in the win, earning a vote of confidence and respect from head coach Dean Evason.

“I’m very impressed,” Evason said about the 22-year-old prospect via The Hockey News. “We gave up a couple opportunities, some three on ones, and he made some tremendous saves. They had good opportunities, and Garand played really well for sure.”

The other Canadians to impact the win was Bo Horvat, who scored twice. Noah Dobson provided the other tally. However, MacKinnon was still named player of the game for his efforts.


Scored 1️⃣ and set up 2️⃣ more. Your Player of the Game is Nathan MacKinnon!

Avec 1️⃣ but et 2️⃣ aides, votre Joueur du match est Nathan MacKinnon! #MensWorlds | #MondialMasculin pic.twitter.com/uEYdnigPZc

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) May 10, 2025

Team Canada is being led by future Hall of Famer and three-time Stanley Cup champion Sidney Crosby, who last played in the tournament a decade ago when he led his team to the gold medal. And with longtime rival and good friend MacKinnon on the team, they seem destined for another taste of the championship wine.

The second game of the World Championship for Team Canada takes place Sunday against Team Latvia at 8:20 a.m. MT. The Czech Republic takes on Norway at 12:30 p.m. MT as well, which could feature Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Nečas’ first game action in the tournament.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...ee-points-team-canada-shuts-out-team-slovenia
 
MacKinnon scores game-winner, Team Canada destroys Team Latvia in 7-1 rout

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off - Championship

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Team Canada trailed, but they didn’t trail for very long.

Team Canada trailed 1-0 for just seven minutes into the opening period after Latvian Eduards Tralmaks found the net, but it was their only blemish of the game.

A day after their shutout win in the first game of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, Canada responded with seven unanswered goals over Team Latvia, including two goals in two-and-a-half minutes of play to turn the tide in their favor.

Kent Johnson scored twice for Team Canada. Nathan MacKinnon, Travis Konecny, Macklin Celebrini, Barrett Hayton, and Mike Matheson, also scored in the 7-1 rout for the Canadians.

Canada Dominates

Travis Konecny tied the game off an assist from Travis Sanheim and Sidney Crosby with 9:30 left in the first period. Nathan MacKinnon subsequently scored off a feed from Bo Horvat for the game-winning goal that gave Canada a 2-1 lead.


Bo Horvat ➡️ Nathan MacKinnon #MensWorlds | #MondialMasculinpic.twitter.com/qycauCdXx2

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) May 11, 2025

From that point forward, it was one-way traffic. At 10:47 Crosby and Martins Dzierkals were both charged with roughing after exchanging pleasantries near the benches. Horvat was boxed for slashing, but Latvia’s power play couldn’t get anything going.

In the second period, Canada officially put the game into blowout territory when Johnson scored twice, a sweet backhand that was setup by Brandon Montour and Crosby. The second goal was all Johnson, who scored unassisted when he sizzled one by Latvian netminder Gustavs Dāvis Grigals to make it a 4-1 game.

Konecny made it a 5-1 game when he scored while his team was a down a man. It didn’t matter whether it was full strength or on the penalty kill, Canada was just miles ahead of their competition. And Fleury, who is set to retire from competition at the conclusion of the World Championships, was having a ball, grinning from ear to ear while making butterfly saves.

Canada continued to dictate the pace early in the final frame when 18-year-old Macklin Celebrini found the net off a setup from Konecny and Crosby to extend the pain to 6-1. Celebrini, who was drafted first overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2024, made an excellent case to win the Calder Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL’s best rookie, this year. He put up 63 points (25 goals, 38 assists) in 70 games in the regular season.

He’ll be one to watch without a doubt. This was Celebrini’s first goal of the tournament.

With the writing on the wall, Latvia resorted to committing penalties, and Canada just continued to outclass them at will. Hayton added the final tally for Canada with less than five minutes remaining in the game. His initial shot rang off the post, but upon further review, the puck was ruled to have crossed the line. Phillip Danault picked up an assist on the play.

At 55:18, Barrett Hayton added Canada’s seventh goal of the game with a sharp-angle shot that initially rang off the post. The play went to video review, but the puck was confirmed to have crossed the line. Phillip Danault picked up the lone assist on the play.

Fleury, who is making his World Championships debut, made 16 saves on 17 shots, while Grigals saved 30 of 37 shots.

At the end of the game, Fleury and Tralmaks were awarded with Tissot watches for being chosen as “Players of the Game” for their respective clubs. Instead of a participation trophy, Tralmaks received a participation watch. Not a bad way to celebrate a defeat.

Next Game

Both teams get a day off before returning to action Tuesday. At 12:20 p.m. MT Canada takes on France, which is coming off a loss over Latvia. And Latvia will face Canada’s first tournament victim, Slovenia.

Czeching in on the Czechs

The Czechs were in action as well with Avalanche forward Martin Nečas suiting up for his first game of the tournament. He played just under 18 minutes with two shots on goal as Czechia narrowly edged Norway 2-1. They will next face Denmark today at 12:20 p.m. MT.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...-team-canada-destroys-team-latvia-in-7-1-rout
 
Analyzing Colorado’s playoff power play woes

NHL: NOV 21 Avalanche at Capitals

Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The move has already been made but what can we learn from the past?

In the immediate aftermath of the Colorado Avalanche’s first round playoff exit in defeat by the Dallas Stars there was a change made to relieve assistant coach Ray Bennett of his duties. He fell on his sword for a power play that was at least part of the reason the season ended earlier than expected. The move might be an easy solution to the problem but fixing the man advantage, which has had its ups and downs during the entire eight years of Bennett’s tenure and consecutive Avalanche playoff appearances, is a complex process. It’s important to understand where this special teams unit failed them in the past as to not repeat the same problems in the future.

While the players seemed too deliberate at times looking for the perfect shot, that was by design as it was a power play intended to take advantage of Colorado’s elite shooters. If it wasn’t clicking the thinking was those shooters would begin to convert eventually and this held true in the regular season. In those eight years the power play settled into a regular season range of 19.1% to 24.8% with the highest mark actually achieved in the 2024-25 season.

What was missing in this year’s playoffs is the luxury of time and Mikko Rantanen, who statistically had been Colorado’s best power play sniper. In a short seven-game series there isn’t time for shooting percent regression to counteract a lull and there was never any significant secondary trick in the bag. Cale Makar is the league’s most talented and unique defenseman and yet he’s stuck running the umbrella like it’s the year 2000. Freeing him up to be a primary shooter, at least in a secondary set-up, is something the new power play boss needs to consider.

Of Colorado’s seven playoff defeats in the last eight years it could be argued the power play was at least a significant contributing factor in five eliminations. The most glaring is the 2/28 performance in the Seattle Kraken loss, which attention was focused elsewhere for obvious reasons, but there was never any pressure placed on the coaching staff to find new adjustments in case this issue kept arising. The best lesson moving forward is to understand the history of their struggles and to make strategies to avoid these pitfalls.

Year by Year playoff results:​


2018: 2/20, 10%

Colorado’s first appearance in the playoffs against Nashville was in Bennett’s initial season with the organization. Everyone was thrilled to just make the dance and wasn’t too concerned with how the very inexperienced Avalanche went out but that 10% success rate should have been an early red flag.

2019: 7/48, 14.6%

The power play wasn’t much better the following year either with putrid results of 2/23, 8.7% in the second round against San Jose. Even if Gabe Landeskog was onside, the Avalanche were primed for disappointment in this postseason with those results.

2020: 15/68, 22.1%

Clearly the power play opportunities in the COVID-19 bubble went crazy after everyone had a couple months break. From an overall perspective, the 22.1% conversion rate was an improvement but the Avalanche slumped with a 4/32, 12.5% against Dallas in the second round series which eliminated them.

2021: 12/29, 41.4%

Finally a year where the man advantage was a dominant force and was not the reason the Avalanche disappointed in the second round against the Vegas Golden Knights with a 6/17, 35.3% success rate in that series.

2022: 20/61, 32.8%

Winning the Stanley Cup was achieved with a strong power play in this season including an incredible 6/16, 37.5% performance in the Cup finals against Tampa Bay.

2023: 2/28, 11.1%

These were appalling results against Seattle with the closest resemblance to the Stanley Cup winning team following their championship win. There were other distractions but this should have been a red flag of how a poor power play performance can undermine a strong regular season team poised for a long playoff run.

2024: 11/30, 36.7%

For once the power play kept up its end of the bargain even in defeat and the 5/14, 35.7% conversion rate against Dallas in the second round was not the reason this season ended too early.

2025: 3/22, 13.6%

We know there story here, the power play was not good enough in this Dallas series and it cost Bennett his job. Cale Makar’s shooting percent regression from 20% in the regular season could be part of the reason for sluggish results as well as a unit trying to find cohesion after the departure of Rantanen. But after five failures in the post season, enough was enough.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...ng-colorado-avalanche-playoff-power-play-woes
 
Canada shuts out France 5-0 at World Championship

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off - Championship

Photo by Brian Babineau/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images

Nathan MacKinnon had an assist to continue his point streak.

How do you say surrender in French?

Team Canada cruised to an easy 5-0 win over Team France Tuesday at Avicii Arena to take the top spot in Group A. They share a 3-0 record with Sweden, but Canada’s 16 goals in three games stand alone. France remains winless with a 0-0-1-2 record.

Bo Horvat was named Player of the Game after a two-goal performance, while Pierre-Édouard Bellemare was named the most impressive for the losing squad.

Sidney Crosby scored his first goal of the tournament, Nathan MacKinnon registered an assist, and goaltender Jordan Binnington earned the shutout for Canada.

How It Happened

The Canadians played a disciplined game from the get-go, playing tic-tac-toe and moving the puck on the string. Canada scored first after the French turned over the puck in their own zone. Tyson Foerster fed Horvat in front, where he snapped it by Julian Junca at 6:32 for his third goal of the tournament.

Canada made it a two-goal advantage later in the frame when Kent Johnson found Will Cuylle off the rush.

The French had some opportunities in the second period but failed to capitalize. They forced a couple of turnovers and tried to break free down the ice, but their skaters were chased down by the speed of the Canadians, including Travis Sanheim, who forced Guillaume Leclerc to fire a weak backhand that completely missed the net.

Canada made it 3-0 late in the frame when Crosby scored on the power play. It was a beautiful sequence from the longtime Pittsburgh Penguins captain. He skated out of the corner, found the right side of the net exposed, and flicked a shot over Junca’s shoulder for the sweet insurance marker.

After Ryan O’Reilly was high-sticked in the face in the third period, Canada got another chance to add another tally on the power play. That happened when Crosby and MacKinnon teamed up to feed Horvat for his second goal of the game. Brandon Montour made it 5-0 when he one-timed a shot from the point and bounced off Junca and into the air, but unfortunately for the French, one of their defenders knocked it into his own net.


More magic on the power play! ✨

La magie se poursuit en avantage numérique! ✨#MensWorlds | #MondialMasculinpic.twitter.com/snoS4kest3

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) May 13, 2025

Next Game

The French fight again on Wednesday against Slovakia. Canada has a day off before taking on Austria on Thursday at 12:20 p.m. MT.

In Other News: MARTY PARTY

The reigning champion Czech Republic defeated Denmark 7-2 Monday night, led by Avalanche forward Martin Nečas. He scored twice in the game, which earned Nečas player of the game honors. David Pastrňák and Lukáš Sedlák also had a goal and two assists. The team is off until they face Hungary on Thursday.


GOAL ! Martin Nečas - Czech Republic 5:1 Denmark #IIHF #MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/yBx1mjg95L

— SAJDLIK (@Sajdlik667) May 12, 2025

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025/5/14/24429645/canada-shuts-out-france-5-0-at-world-championship
 
Mile High Pollster: Fans are hoping the Avalanche re-sign Brock Nelson

Colorado Avalanche v Dallas Stars

Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images

Cal Ritchie went in a deal for Nelson and fans don’t want that to go to waste.

It’s time for another Mile High Hockey pollster with the Colorado Avalanche being eliminated in seven games by the Dallas Stars. Now it’s on to off-season topics like who will return, who will walk, and what outcome suits the heart of Avalanche territory? Let’s see what the fans think.

To be or not to be

Whenever a team turns the calendar to the next season, we look at expiring contracts and some of the acquired talent to gauge the possibility of a contract extension. Here are the expiring unrestricted contracts Colorado will have to address this offseason, and my prediction of what it would cost to keep a player around.

Let’s start with Brock Nelson, the player filling a significant role as he was brought in to play 2C for the Avalanche. Nelson being acquired in a deal that featured Colorado’s most promising prospect in Cal Ritchie means that if the Avalanche don’t re-sign him, they are resigned to losing that trade and giving up their best prospect for a rental. That’s not good business, so I think the Avalanche will do all they can to retain Nelson. If the fit isn’t right, they might admit defeat on that trade and acquire someone who fits best. Say, like Sam Bennett, for instance? The fans have spoken and want to see Nelson return for the Avalanche.


Should the Avalanche re-sign Brock Nelson? #GoAvsGo

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) May 13, 2025

Jonathan Drouin’s lack of availability throughout the regular season and lack of production in the postseason have soured fans a bit. I bet Drouin sticks around because the situation fits his path and lifestyle. That said, the Avalanche should be able to get him on the cheap. Fans in Colorado say Jo’s time in Denver should be done.


Should the Avalanche re-sign Jonathan Drouin?#GoAvsGo | @MileHighHockey | @MHH_LAB

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) May 13, 2025

Joel Kiviranta had a sneaky good season yet again, posting a career-high points total and 16 goals this season. Given his low cost last season, he was productive enough, and his productivity should earn him a little bump. I do think Colorado continues to grow with Kiviranta and retains his services. They need affordable bottom-six talent, and that’s precisely what Kiviranta is.


Should the Avalanche re-sign Joel Kiviranta?#GoAvsGo | @MileHighHockey | @MHH_LAB

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) May 13, 2025

Quest for the Cup

Colorado’s journey might be done this season, but eight teams continue their quest for Lord Stanley, and things are starting to heat up in the second round. I asked fans who they thought would represent each conference in the Stanley Cup Final. Looks like we are getting Carolina vs. Edmonton. That would mean the Oilers would have another crack at becoming the first Canadian franchise to win a Stanley Cup since 1993.


Who will represent the West in the #StanleyCupFinal?#GoAvsGo | @MileHighHockey | @MHH_LAB

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) May 13, 2025

Who will represent the East in the #StanleyCupFinal?#GoAvsGo | @MileHighHockey | @MHH_LAB

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) May 13, 2025

Moose in the room

I know it hurts, but let’s touch on Dallas’ chances of hoisting since they are the team that infamously eliminated Colorado because of an excruciatingly untimely but impressive showing from Mikko Rantanen. If Dallas wins it all, will that hurt your heart more or less?


If Dallas wins a cup, will that make you feel better or worse about being eliminated by them? #GoAvsGo

— Adrian Hernandez (@AdoHernandez27) May 13, 2025

Let us know what you think of each poll in the comments, and be sure to follow if you’d like to vote on next week’s polls!

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...are-hoping-the-avalanche-re-sign-brock-nelson
 
Meet Mark Senden, the biggest surprise for the Colorado Eagles

54504768505_505526e6cd_b.0.jpg

Colorado Eagles

The Colorado Eagles did not expect much from the second-year player and got more than what they bargained for.

It was such a small signing over the summer last year that the Colorado Eagles never even announced it. The two-way AHL contract of 27-year old Mark Senden has paid off for the Colorado Eagles. For a player that was supposed to play mostly for the Utah Grizzlies, the forward has been nothing but consistent in Loveland.

It didn't take long for the Eagles to strike back as Chase Bradley nails a backhander for his first of the series. Assisted by Mark Senden (1) and Wyatt Aamodt (2) #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @HockeyMtnHighCO pic.twitter.com/nLdQcJW03M

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) May 8, 2025

The former North Dakota Fighting Hawks captain spent almost all of last season with the Florida Everblades (FLA at the time). Senden would only see 11 games in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers (FLA) and tally no points. He finished the year with the Everblades with a Kelly Cup in hand and 15 points in the playoffs. This caught the eye of the Colorado Eagles and they signed Senden to a two-way one-year AHL deal.

After going 8 mins with one SOG, Mark Senden breaks through for the first on the board today. Assists by Aamodt and Ahcan. #Avs #GoAvsGo    #EaglesCountry @MileHighHockey pic.twitter.com/VnMBoWALrI

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) November 30, 2024

Since then, Senden has played 61 AHL games for the Eagles and netted eight goals himself. Besides, the 15 assists that he has on his scoresheet. Head coach Aaron Schneekloth has used Senden on all four lines, playing both center and left wing. Injuries forced the Eagles to put Senden into the lineup early in the season and he never looked back. He has been a pest in the neutral zone, making it difficult for the opposing team to get through. Despite his five foot ten-inch frame, Senden packs quite a hit too. He’s often seen hitting players, separating them from the puck, and stealing it.

William Dufour (12) creates some chaos in front of the net leading to Mark Senden's sixth of the season and the tying goal. Wyatt Aamodt with the secondary assist (12). #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry pic.twitter.com/yPDGy84bun

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) March 23, 2025

Senden is in position for an extension with the Eagles over the summer and has been one of the biggest surprises this season. He came onto the roster as an unknown player and has now secured a spot in the lineup every night. Having played under 150 professional games will make him appealing to management as he’s not considered a veteran with the player development rule. In order to rebuild the Eagles, they should not hesitate to re-sign him.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...e-for-the-colorado-eagles-and-needs-extension
 
MacKinnon puts up three points, Canada burns Austria 5-1

NHL 4 Nations Face-Off - Championship

Photo by Ben Jackson/4NFO/World Cup of Hockey via Getty Images

Canada started the game down 1-0 despite 23 shots on goal in the first period.

Nathan MacKinnon was the star of the show.

Team Canada improved to 4-0 in the IIHF World Championship Thursday with a 5-1 victory over Austria. The Canadians outshot Austria 52-16, showing just how impressive Austrian netminder Florian Vorauer was in keeping the game somewhat close. MacKinnon led the charge with two goals and an assist, while Brandon Montour had a massive contribution with three assists in the victory.

Marc-André Fleury stopped 15 of 16 shots.

First Period

Canada put up 23 shots on net in the opening frame, but shockingly, Austria struck first when Vinzenz Rohrer scored on a breakaway against Fleury to give his team a 1-0 lead.

Second Period

It took slightly longer than expected, but Canada finally found the net just 21 seconds into the second period when MacKinnon scored on the power play to make it an even game. Montour and Bo Horvat were credited with assists.

Vorauer continued to put up a heroic effort for his country, but the armor was inevitably pierced due to Canada’s relentless assault. MacKinnon scored again at 33:10 to give his native homeland the lead for good.

Third Period

And in the final period of play, Canada crushed their Austrian counterparts. Travis Konecny added to his point streak at 48:32, when he scored off a tip-in assist from Will Cuylle, who found the net himself three minutes later when he beat Vorauer glove side. And in a moments notice, what appeared to be a close game on the scoreboard had transformed into a beatdown.

Sidney Crosby scored his second goal of the world championship with just under two minutes remaining with help from Horvat and MacKinnon to seal the deal. The Colorado Avalanche star was named player of the game again for his efforts.


| Nathan MacKinnon had two goals and an assist, plus Brandon Montour recorded three helpers, as defeated 5-1 at #MensWorlds.

| Nathan MacKinnon obtient deux buts et une aide, Brandon Montour a trois aides, et le défait l’ 5-1 au #MondialMasculin. pic.twitter.com/oAJkLMXL9P

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) May 15, 2025

Czech Republic downs Hungary

David Pastrnak scored two goals and an assist as he led the Czech Republic to a 6-1 victory over Hungary. Martin Nečas, who scored two goals in a 7-2 win over Denmark on Monday, did not light the board in this matchup, but he still made an impact. He was active during the power play, ringing a shot off the post during one sequence.

Upcoming

Both teams get another day off with Canada taking on Slovakia at 12:20 p.m. MT on Saturday afternoon. The Czechs will face-off against Kazakhstan at 8:20 a.m. MT.

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...s-canada-burns-austria-5-1-world-championship
 
Eagles take on Abbotsford in Pacific Division finals

Syndication: Desert Sun

Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

There’s a Colorado hockey team still playing.

The five-round AHL playoffs continue as the Colorado Eagles advanced out of their second round matchup with the San Jose Barracuda in a 3-1 series win. In the four games, forwards Matthew Phillips, Tye Felhaber, Jason Megna each led the team with six points, with the latter two each scoring three goals. The Eagles were spared the first round “play-in” by virtue of winning the Pacific Division and were well rested enough after the bye to make quick work of the Barracuda.


Fella is a straight shooter#EaglesCountry #TimeToFly25 pic.twitter.com/IIQikZZpW0

— y - Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) May 8, 2025

For the third round dubbed the “division finals” the Eagles will take on a familiar foe in the Abbotsford Canucks. Colorado will start the series in Canada for two games and then hope to close out this best-of-five series at home in Loveland. First game is tonight, May 16th at 8 p.m. MT which can be seen on FloHockey.


Familiar foes for round three. We’ll kick things off in Abbotsford on Friday. #EaglesCountry #TimeToFly25 pic.twitter.com/D0MKKblgZq

— y - Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) May 10, 2025

Abbortsford, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, has been an adversary all year for the Eagles. They climbed all the way to second in the Pacific Division and finished just two points behind Colorado with a 44-24-4 record. This is a very tough match for the Eagles as they lost the regular season series to the Canucks 2-4-2 and didn’t win a game in Abbotsford. Canucks prospect goaltender Arturs Silvos has put up a .935 save percentage and 1.74 goals against average so Trent Miner will have to continue his .939 sv% and 1.96 GAA run himself for the Eagles to advance.

Update: Tonight’s game will be streamed for free.


Who's excited for another freeview?!

You can watch us face off against the Abbotsford Canucks on the @TheAHL Facebook page or the @FloHockey X and YouTube!#EaglesCountry #TimeToFly25 pic.twitter.com/uWyURO8WA2

— y - Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) May 16, 2025

Source: https://www.milehighhockey.com/2025...abbotsford-canucks-in-pacific-division-finals
 
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