Tag: stanley cup
-
Mark Kiszla: The Avs have what the Nuggets don’t — a championship mentality
The Avs and Nuggets are neighbors who live under the same arena roof, but their definitions of success seem to have been discovered on different planets. For the hockey team, winning is all that matters. “It’s like Cup or bust, Cup or bust. Well, we’ve got one Cup. It’s hard to win, OK? But I…
-
Mark Kiszla: Denver is hockey mecca that State of Hockey wants to be when it grows up
Minnesota likes to boast it’s the State of Hockey. But the No. 1 Hockey Town in the whole USA? That’s no contest. It’s Denver. “They call it the State of Hockey for a reason,” Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski told me Saturday. “Playing hockey is what every kid in Minnesota dreams about. I think back on…
-
3 keys to Colorado’s first-round series against Kings | 2026 Avalanche Playoff Preview
The Avalanche went wire-to-wire as the best team in the NHL. Naturally, they’re considered heavy favorites against the Los Angeles Kings, the team with the lowest point total to qualify for the postseason. You can’t take any team for granted when the playoffs roll around, though. Here are three key factors that could decide the…
-
Avalanche clinch fourth Presidents’ Trophy, secure home ice for NHL playoffs
Fans of the Colorado Avalanche could be seeing a lot of live hockey at Ball Arena well into June if things go according to plan. With a win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night at Ball Arena, the Avalanche clinched the fourth Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history, given to the team that finishes the…
-
Kickin’ It with Kiz: Here’s the no-brainer first-round pick for the Broncos in NFL draft
The Broncos signed no big name in free agency? This is garbage. General manager George Paton not getting an extension means he decided not to give a flip? And is coach Sean Payton really so full of himself that he figured nothing about this team needed to improve or change? – L.F., Denver Kiz: OK,…
-
After ‘amazing’ Olympic experience, Nathan MacKinnon ready for deep playoff run with Avalanche
LOS ANGELES — A fan in the Salt Lake City crowd last week had quickly whipped up a bootleg T-shirt with a photo of a disappointed Nathan MacKinnon following Canada’s gold-medal defeat at the hands of Team USA. What did the shirt say? “You be the judge of who was the better team today.” That’s…
-
From one No. 8 to another, Avalanche great Sandis Ozolinsh praises Cale Makar: ‘He is a game changer’
Before the great Cale Makar wore No. 8, there was another No. 8 who was pretty great. Ahead of the 1996 Stanley Cup-winning Avalanche team being honored Dec. 11, the current No. 8 showed some respect to the man who came before him. Game respects game. “I just met Sandis Ozolinsh really quick there,” Makar…
-
Avalanche, Hurricanes give fans a potential Stanley Cup preview
Both teams looked good on Thursday night. We’re not just talking about the actual hockey, either. Thursday night was retro night at Ball Arena, with the Avalanche and Hurricanes throwing it back to an old Adams Division rivalry, donning Quebec Nordiques and Hartford Whalers jerseys. Only one team could walk away victorious, and that was…
-
Jared Bednar’s Avalanche summon memories of 2022 Stanley Cup champs on opening night | Evan’s take
LOS ANGELES — The Colorado Avalanche are still ticked off about last season’s end. They played like it on opening night. It was a slow burn, but when the Avalanche got rolling, the Los Angeles Kings could not slow them. It was the usual suspects on offense who provided the fireworks, but that lingering anger…
-
Evan Rawal’s predictions on NHL awards, Stanley Cup champ | 2025-26 Avalanche Preview
With the 2025-26 NHL season getting underway Tuesday, here are Evan Rawal’s predictions for the major award winners, conference finalists, and, yes, the Stanley Cup champion: Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP of regular season) – Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights Eichel is Mr. Everything for Vegas and finished fifth on the Hart ballot last season. With…