Avalanche clinch first
The Colorado Avalanche became the first NHL club to clinch a 2026 Stanley Cup playoff berth — a sign their early‑season form held through the march to the playoffs. (usatoday.com)
Colorado clinched the spot with a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on March 20, 2026, a game in which Nathan MacKinnon recorded three assists, Martin Necas had a goal and two assists, and Valeri Nichushkin added a goal and an assist. (nhl.com) That victory left the Avalanche at 45-13-10 (100 points) through 68 games and four points clear of the Dallas Stars atop the Central Division. (nhl.com) Necas’s three-point night gave him a career-high 84 points (32 goals, 52 assists), and Colorado became the first NHL team this season to reach 100 points — the franchise’s fifth straight season hitting the century mark. (nhl.com) The clinch also extends Colorado’s streak to nine consecutive postseason appearances, a run the team’s official site lists as “qualifies for playoffs for ninth-consecutive season.” (nhl.com) Colorado’s next scheduled game is Sunday, March 22 against the Washington Capitals, and the NHL regular season is set to run through April 16, 2026. (hockey-reference.com)
