DENVER — When the puck drops Sunday night in Denver, two remarkably similar hockey teams will face off in what promises to be an epic second-round playoff battle.
The Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild possess striking similarities that make this matchup particularly intriguing. Both squads feature dynamic superstars — Nathan MacKinnon leading Colorado’s attack while Kirill Kaprizov anchors Minnesota’s offense.
The parallels extend throughout their lineups: elite defensemen Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes, reliable goaltending from Scott Wedgewood and Jesper Wallstedt, plus seasoned players like Brent Burns and Nick Foligno still chasing their first Stanley Cup championship.
History suggests this series could go the distance. When these Central Division foes have clashed in previous playoffs, two of their last three encounters required all seven games, including a 2014 first-round series where Minnesota defeated Colorado in MacKinnon’s initial NHL postseason appearance.
“It’s going to be another big battle,” said Marcus Foligno, whose Wild eliminated Dallas in six games to reach this round. “We’re mentally ready for it.”
Regular season meetings between these clubs were deadlocked at 2-1-1, with each team claiming one regulation victory and suffering one shootout loss against the other.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, whose team swept Los Angeles in the opening round, acknowledged the challenge ahead. “As the coach, I can steer them which way I think … how hard it’s going to go,” Bednar explained. “But they’ve got to go and feel it. They have to go and engage in it.”
The timing favors Colorado, as the Avalanche enjoyed a week of rest while Minnesota battled through a physical series against Dallas. However, Colorado demonstrated versatility against the Kings, capturing two low-scoring 2-1 victories, including an overtime win.
Despite earning the Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s top regular-season team, the Avalanche embrace their role as Cup favorites with measured confidence.
“It doesn’t really mean nothing unless you’re the last team standing,” forward Nazem Kadri stated. “We’re going to have to be ready for everything they throw at us.”
Both teams enter with injury concerns. Colorado defenseman Josh Manson is managing an upper-body ailment, while Minnesota faces uncertainty with forward Joel Eriksson Ek questionable due to a lower-body injury. Defenseman Jonas Brodin didn’t travel with the Wild.
The defensive matchup features the last two Norris Trophy winners. Makar concluded the regular season with 20 goals and 59 assists, then scored in consecutive playoff games. Hughes, acquired from Vancouver on December 12, contributed five goals and 48 assists during Minnesota’s regular season while averaging nearly 28 minutes per game — a number that’s climbed to 31:40 in the playoffs.
“It’s no surprise,” teammate Brock Faber said of Hughes’ performance. “Big-time players step up in big-time games, and that is what he did.”
Several players share Olympic memories from Team USA’s dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over Canada for gold. Brock Nelson, Hughes, Faber, and Matt Boldy helped deliver America’s first Olympic hockey championship in 46 years, while Canada’s roster included Avalanche stars Devon Toews, Makar, and MacKinnon.
“Something we will remember forever,” Nelson reflected. “But now put friendships on pause.”
Minnesota carries the weight of playoff struggles, posting a 5-14 record in postseason series throughout their 25-year existence. Their advancement past the first round marks just the second time since 2003, and their first since 2015 — when current defenseman Faber was nearly 12 years old.
“I don’t remember it,” Faber admitted. “We write our own story. Every team has their own story. Every team has their own ups and downs.”
For Colorado’s Brent Burns, this represents perhaps his final opportunity to capture the Stanley Cup that has eluded him through 22 NHL seasons. The 41-year-old defenseman began his career with Minnesota, who selected him 20th overall in 2003 and where he played until 2011.
“That’s a long time ago,” Makar said with a smile when asked about Burns’ Minnesota connection.
