Playtime's Over

1,312 games. That's how many overall games are on an NHL regular season schedule. On this day, the final day of the 2025-26 regular season, the 1,312th and final game to see the puck drop was this contest between the Colorado Avalanche and the Seattle Kraken in Denver's Ball Arena. This would be the finish of a very spectacular season that saw the Avs finish with the best record in entire NHL, capturing the Presidents' Trophy during our 78th game of the season. The main concern is how a team plays in games after winning said trophy, and in our last three games, we're 2-0-1. Not bad.

The Avalanche still had one question looming over our heads: Who would we face in Round 1? It was between three teams: the Edmonton Oilers, the Anaheim Ducks, and the Los Angeles Kings. The three teams entered this final day playing for positioning, mainly second place in the Pacific. They each played separate games that started prior to our game against Seattle. The Ducks were in Nashville, the Kings were in Calgary, the Oilers were the only ones at home, hosting the Canucks. The Ducks game ended first--a 5-4 victory over the Predators. The win guaranteed them at least 3rd in the Pacific, so they avoid the Avs. As for the other two, well, the Kings were tied 1-1 in the second period, but also in the second period, Edmonton led 5-1. So yeah, with Edmonton only needing one point to clinch second place, they were going to get it.

So we're facing LA in Round 1! But here's one other thing that's official:

HE DID IT!! I present to you, the 2025-26 winner of the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy for the season's top goal scorer, Nathan MacKinnon!!! The Mack Man finished with 53 goals this season, which is a career high for goals in a season; surpassing his previous high of 51 from two seasons prior. MacKinnon finished two goals ahead of the Canadiens' Cole Caufield, who poured it and put in 51 this year. MacKinnon is only the second Avs player to win the Richard Trophy, joining Milan Hejduk (2002-03) on that very short list.

Regarding the game, Scott Wedgewood was in net against Victor Ostman, and a lot of the big boys were not playing. No MacKinnon, no Landeskog, no Kadri, but Cale Makar played, as did Artturi Lehkonen. Avs totally dominated the shots to start, Nick Blankenburg scored to make it 1-0... or so he thought. Challenged for offsides, they said it was--it definitely wasn't. Refs already practicing to attempt to screw us in the playoffs. Anyway, it was scoreless after 20, but in the second period, Blankenburg did get his goal anyway. It was scored on a delayed penalty call, but a funny thing happened. Seattle committed another penalty after the goal. So it was 1-0 Avs, and we had a power play, which was killed off. Avs led 1-0 after 40, and the third period saw the red hot Parker Kelly make it 2-0! Kelly's been on one hell of a roll this season; the goal was his 21st, and thanks to Wedgewood, it held up.

The Avalanche's regular season finale was a victorious one, a 2-0 shutout win over the Kraken. Remember when goaltending was such a huge issue for us two years ago? Not anymore! The tandem of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood banded together to give up next to nothing, giving up less than 200 goals and capturing the Jennings Trophy! I remember when these two were backups... backups on different teams! Now they're together with the Avalanche, and in their first full season with the Avs (we acquired them last year via trades), they have become quite the duo in net. Seven combined shutouts; this one was Wedgewood's fourth, and Blackwood has three this season.

The win was our 55th of the season, and we finished with 121 points, surpassing our franchise record from that magical 2021-22 season. But that's the regular season, and the real fun now begins:

The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on Saturday, but for the Avs, it begins on Sunday. The Avs will face off against the Los Angeles Kings in the Central Division Semifinals; the third playoff meeting between the two teams. I am ready and hyped up for the entire playoffs, and I am hopeful that this year ends with the Avalanche hoisting the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in team history.

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