Avalanche Extend NHL Lead Behind Makar
The Colorado Avalanche, currently leading the NHL, beat Chicago 3-1 with defenseman Cale Makar scoring twice and Gavin Brindley netting the go-ahead goal in the third period. The win cements Colorado's position atop the standings as the playoff race intensifies, while trade deadline hype and live deal trackers dominate hockey coverage.
The victory positions the Avalanche as the clear frontrunners for the Presidents' Trophy, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record. Colorado currently sits first in the NHL with a 39-10-9 record. The franchise has won the trophy three times previously, a mark tied for third-most in league history. Cale Makar's two-goal performance was his 18th career multi-goal game. That ties him with Erik Karlsson for the second-most among active NHL defensemen, trailing only Roman Josi. During the 2023-24 season, Makar tallied an impressive 21 goals and 69 assists. The win came against a struggling Chicago Blackhawks team that sits near the bottom of the Central Division standings. The Blackhawks have now lost three straight games and six of their last seven. Rookie Gavin Brindley, who netted the game-winner, was originally a 2023 draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Avalanche acquired him via a trade in 2025. Brindley has battled through several injuries this season, including lower-body and upper-body issues. Despite their top standing, the Avalanche have been playing .500 hockey recently, with a record of 5-5-0 over their last 10 contests. The team is looking to regain its dominant form as the playoffs approach. Off the ice, the Avalanche recently cleared significant salary cap space by trading defenseman Samuel Girard to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The move gives the team projected deadline cap space between $9 million and $11 million to acquire players. Rumors suggest General Manager Chris MacFarland is looking to add a third-line center for more scoring depth. A potential reunion with former Avs forward Nazem Kadri, who was a key part of their 2022 Stanley Cup run, has been a prominent rumor.
