AVALANCHE WRAP: Avs can still tie all-time NHL record for most wins

Well, first, let’s get this out of the way: Of the two teams that share the NHL single-season record for most wins (Detroit, 1995-96 and Tampa Bay in 2018-19, with 62) neither even made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. So, let’s be careful what we wish for eh, Colorado Avalanche fans?

But the fact is, the Avs can tie the record as well, if they go 7-0 in their last seven. They got their 55th win of the season last night against Carolina, 7-4. They also took a four-point lead on Florida again for the Presidents’ Trophy, which would guarantee home-ice advantage throughout all four rounds. Of course, the Avs won the Presidents’ Trophy last season too and…let’s not go there.

About last night:

• That was some hit by Cale Makar on Jordan Staal.

All three available views of Cale Makar's flawless hit on Jordan Staal. pic.twitter.com/CjfQi6ghxd

— Avalanche Forever (@citchmook) April 17, 2022

• Carolina did a lot of running around after the clean hit and wanted payback, and you can’t necessarily blame them. But it was a clean hit.
• Carolina goalie Frederik Andersen looks like he suffered a pretty bad injury in the game. He might be out a good while.
• Four years now for Nathan MacKinnon with 30 goals. Is anybody worried about his goal production pace anymore?
• Ben Meyers on scoring a goal in his first game: “I just kind of blanked out. I wasn’t thinking much. It was a great moment, and great plays by my linemates to take it to the net, and I was just fortunate to get the rebound there.”
• Remember, Meyers can’t play in the postseason, because he signed his contract after the NHL trade deadline and he hadn’t been an Avs draft choice before that – unlike Cale Makar in 2019.
• Bednar on Meyers: “I liked him a lot. He’s a strong skater. Great motor, he’s in pursuit of the puck. He’s got pretty good details to his game and he’s just learning our structure. He made a couple mistakes on a faceoff play, but that’s just new coverage for him that he’ll pick up and keep going it with him.”
• Bednar on game overall: “We skated well, we competed well.”
• Bednar said he thought it was “the best Newhook has looked in months.”
• The Avalanche clinched its second straight division title and 11th division championship since moving to Denver (13th in franchise history). It’s the first time the club has won back-to-back division titles since their NHL-record run of nine straight from 1994-95 through 2002-03. Colorado clinched the No. 1 seed in their conference for the fourth time in franchise history and first since 2000-01.
• The Avalanche improved to 31-4-3 at Ball Arena this season, setting a new franchise record for home points (65) in a season. Colorado passes the 2000-01 club, which had 63 home points.
• Newhook picked up his fourth multi-point outing of the season and second this month (also: April 8 at Winnipeg). He has produced seven points (1g/6a) in seven games in April, ranked second among NHL rookies this month (Michael Bunting, 10). Newhook’s goal stood as the game-winner, his fifth of the season to move into a tie among league rookies in game-winning goals.
• Rod Brind’Amour on the night for Carolina: “It’s tough. There’s just so many things that went on in this game. Obviously, we didn’t like the result tonight. We had a couple of guys get hurt and that’s really my major concern. So, yeah, it’s not a good night for us, that’s for sure.”