Avalanche Favored to End Presidents' Trophy Curse and Win Stanley Cup

Colorado Avalanche lead the pack of Stanley Cup contenders as playoffs begin

Apr. 17, 2026 at 7:25am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a hockey game between the Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant blue, burgundy, and silver color palette.The Colorado Avalanche's quest to end the Presidents' Trophy curse and capture the Stanley Cup begins with a first-round clash against the Los Angeles Kings.Denver Today

The Colorado Avalanche, winners of the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular season team, are the unanimous favorites to lift the Stanley Cup as the 2026 playoffs get underway. The Avalanche are looking to buck the trend of Presidents' Trophy winners struggling in the postseason, with the last team to win both honors being the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012-13.

Why it matters

The Avalanche's regular season dominance has made them the team to beat, but Presidents' Trophy winners have historically struggled in the playoffs. Colorado will look to end that curse and cement their status as the NHL's top team by capturing the Stanley Cup.

The details

The Avalanche will open their Stanley Cup quest against the Los Angeles Kings, who clinched the Western Conference's second wild-card spot. Other key first-round matchups include the Edmonton Oilers facing the Anaheim Ducks, and the Carolina Hurricanes taking on the Ottawa Senators in the East.

  • The 2026 NHL playoffs begin on Sunday, April 20th.
  • The Avalanche will host the Kings in Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday, April 20th.

The players

Colorado Avalanche

The Presidents' Trophy-winning team that is the favorite to capture the 2026 Stanley Cup.

Los Angeles Kings

The Western Conference's second wild-card team that will face the Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs.

Edmonton Oilers

The Pacific Division's second-place team that will take on the Anaheim Ducks in the first round.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Metropolitan Division champion that will face the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“The Avalanche have been the class of the NHL all season and are rightfully the favorites to win it all. They have the talent and experience to finally end the Presidents' Trophy curse.”

— Liam Fitzgerald, NHL Analyst

What’s next

The first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs will begin on Sunday, April 20th, with the Avalanche hosting the Kings in Game 1 of their series.

The takeaway

The Colorado Avalanche have a golden opportunity to cement their status as the NHL's top team by winning the Stanley Cup after dominating the regular season. However, they'll need to overcome the historical struggles of Presidents' Trophy winners in the playoffs to capture their first championship since 2001.