Avalanche Look to Clinch West in Rematch with Blues

Colorado aims to secure top seed in West, while St. Louis fights to keep playoff hopes alive.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:11pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues, with players and the rink broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes of color.The high-stakes rematch between the Avalanche and Blues showcases the intensity and strategic complexity of the playoff race.St. Louis Today

The Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues will face off in a rematch after the Blues defeated the Avalanche 3-2 in their previous meeting. Colorado has the chance to clinch the top seed in the Western Conference, while St. Louis is desperately trying to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Avalanche have won their last five road games, giving them an edge in this matchup.

Why it matters

This game is crucial for both teams' playoff aspirations. The Avalanche are looking to secure the top seed in the West, which would give them a significant advantage in the postseason. Meanwhile, the Blues are fighting to stay in the wild card race, making this a must-win game for them.

The details

The Avalanche will be without forward Val Nichushkin, who sat out the previous game with an upper-body injury. Zakhar Bardakov may take his place in the lineup. The Blues will be relying on their leading scorer, Robert Thomas, who recorded a hat trick against the Avalanche in their last meeting. Goaltenders Joel Hofer for the Blues and Scott Wedgewood for the Avalanche are expected to start.

  • The teams will face off on April 7, 2026.
  • The Avalanche lost to the Blues 3-2 in their previous meeting on April 2, 2026.

The players

Val Nichushkin

An Avalanche forward who sat out the previous game with an upper-body injury.

Zakhar Bardakov

An Avalanche player who may replace Nichushkin in the lineup.

Robert Thomas

The Blues' leading scorer, who recorded a hat trick against the Avalanche in their last meeting.

Joel Hofer

The Blues' expected starting goaltender, who has been backstopping the team's recent success.

Scott Wedgewood

The Avalanche's expected starting goaltender for this game.

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What they’re saying

“This rematch sets up in favor of the Avalanche for that reason plus they've been able to serve up revenge for a loss all season.”

— Jackie Kay, Author

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a significant step towards securing their playoff position, while the loser will face an uphill battle to keep their postseason hopes alive.

The takeaway

This game is a crucial showdown between two Western Conference rivals with high stakes. The Avalanche have the opportunity to clinch the top seed in the West, while the Blues are fighting to stay in the playoff race. The outcome of this rematch could have major implications for both teams' postseason aspirations.