Avalanche, Stars clinch spots

Colorado clinched its postseason berth with a 4-1 win at the Chicago Blackhawks on March 20, a game in which Martin Necas had a goal and two assists and the Avalanche became the first team to lock in a spot this season. (nhl.com)) That victory pushed Colorado to 100 points — the franchise’s fifth straight 100‑point season — and marked only the third time the club clinched in fewer than 70 games during an 82‑game campaign (previously 67 games in 1996‑97 and 69 games in 2000‑01). (nhl.com)) Dallas secured its berth on March 22 after a result elsewhere (Los Angeles beat Utah), becoming the second team to clinch and capping a run that included a 10‑game win streak from Jan. 23 to March 3. (dailyfaceoff.com)) The Stars’ qualification extends Dallas’ streak of consecutive postseason appearances to five years and currently positions them behind Colorado in the Central Division pecking order as teams head down the stretch. (dailyfaceoff.com)) Ottawa moved into the Eastern Conference’s second wild‑card slot with a 3-2 road win at Detroit on March 24, a game highlighted by 20‑year‑old Carter Yakemchuk’s NHL debut (a goal and an assist) and a 32‑save performance by Linus Ullmark; the Senators are 38-24-9 on the season. (nhl.com)) The 2025‑26 regular season is scheduled to conclude Thursday, April 16, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin two days later on Saturday, April 18, leaving teams roughly three weeks to finalize seeding and tiebreaker scenarios. (nhl.com))