An early look at Colorado Avalanche playoff path if NHL playoffs started today

The Colorado Avalanche stand to run through the gauntlet if they are to make their way to the Stanley Cup Final this season.

If the NHL playoffs started today, the Colorado Avalanche would have to play some of the toughest teams in the Western Conference just to get to the Cup Final. While certainly not impossible, it does seem like a daunting task at the moment.

So, let’s take an early look at the Colorado Avalanche’s playoff path if the NHL playoffs started today.

Colorado Avalanche path in NHL playoffs

First round

The Avs are currently third in the Central Division with 85 points, two behind the Dallas Stars for second. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if the Avs finish second or third as they would face the Stars one way or another.

Of course, finishing second does give the Avalanche home-ice advantage in the first round. But beyond that, the playoff matchup remains the same. Now, if the Stars were to fall into a wildcard spot and, say, the Minnesota Wild climbed back into the top three, that would change the outlook for the first round.

But as it stands today, it’s the Stars and Avalanche in the first round. This matchup would feature a full-on assault against former Avalanche great Mikko Rantanen, along with one of the best defensive teams in the league.

I’m not sure I’d handicap this series at this point, but it looks like it will go the distance with either team coming up victorious.

Second round

In the second round, the Avs would face the winner of the Central Division and one of the wild card teams. As of now, the Winnipeg look poised to win the Central Division, and the top seed in the West. That means the Jets would play the Vancouver Canucks, the West’s second wildcard team.

Unless there was a stunning upset, the Jets are poised to steamroll the Canucks. So, assuming the Jets get past the Canucks, it would be the Jets and Avalanche in the second round. Last season, the Avs pounded the Jets in the first round.

This season, it’s safe to assume the Jets would enter the series with a chip on their shoulder. But if there’s any team that can stop the Jets, it’s the Avalanche. So, let’s assume the Avs beat the Jets in a much closer series, say, six or seven games.

Western Conference Final

In the Western Conference Final, the Avalanche would face the winner of the Pacific Division bracket. As it stands, the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings would battle in one first-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights, winner of the Pacific Division, taking on the Minnesota Wild, the first wild card team.

Let’s assume the Oilers bounce the Kings and the Golden Knights dispatch the Wild, the Oilers would face the Golden Knights in the second round. Let’s assume once more that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are too much for the Golden Knights, leading the Oilers to the Conference Final.

That situation sets up an epic Connor McDavid versus Nathan MacKinnon matchup. The Oilers, while uber-talented, aren’t exactly the most consistent team. There are times when the Oilers falter and other times look unstoppable.

So, let’s suppose the Avalanche continue a string of successful games, beating the Oilers in the Conference Final. Such a situation would set the Avalanche up against the winner of the Eastern Conference side of the bracket.

Stanley Cup Final

It’s anyone’s guess who could be the winner on the Eastern Conference side of the NHL playoff bracket. The Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Tampa Bay Lightning all look poised to make it to the Stanley Cup Final.

But let’s take the odds and suppose the Florida Panthers, as defending champions, make it back to the Stanley Cup Final. That would set up another unforgettable final featuring MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and company against a rag-tag group in Florida.

Last year, the Panthers needed seven games to take the Cup home. This time around, the clock will strike midnight as the Avalanche dethrone the Cup champs and bring their second Cup in four seasons.

Of course, the path I’ve laid out is purely based on assumptions. We’ll have a clearer picture once the playoff seedings are final in about four weeks.