Avalanche become first NHL team to clinch a playoff spot this season
The Colorado Avalanche became the first NHL team to clinch a playoff spot on Friday night. Colorado strengthened its hold on the Western Conference with a sharp performance at Chicago in the opener of a four-game trip. Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri and Valeri Nichushkin scored in a 4-1 victory over the lowly Blackhawks.
CHICAGO (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche became the first NHL team to clinch a playoff spot on Friday night. That development had been just a matter of time for a while. But the way they secured the franchise's ninth consecutive postseason appearance, well, that was important.
Colorado strengthened its hold on the Western Conference with a sharp performance at Chicago in the opener of a four-game trip. Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri and Valeri Nichushkin scored in a 4-1 victory over the lowly Blackhawks. “I think if we just play like that, there isn't many games we're going to lose,” Necas said.
“Just a strong overall game. ... Just keep it rolling.
” Colorado (45-13-10) had dropped four of five, including an ugly 7-2 home loss to a Pittsburgh team playing without Sidney Crosby at the time. But Avalanche coach Jared Bednar was encouraged by how the team played in a 2-1 shootout loss to Dallas on Wednesday night, and the momentum carried over to the win at Chicago — particularly in a dominant first and third periods. With the victory, the Avalanche moved four points ahead of the Stars and 10 clear of the Minnesota Wild at the top of the Western Conference.