Avalanche Clinch Division and Conference, Remain Focused on Presidents' Trophy

Colorado secures top spot in Western Conference but still has sights set on home-ice advantage through Stanley Cup Final

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:41am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form capturing the intensity and movement of the sport.The Avalanche's dominant performance against the Blues showcases their ability to overcome adversity and remain focused on their ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup.St. Louis Today

The Colorado Avalanche clinched the Central Division title and the top spot in the Western Conference with a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night. However, the team remained focused on their larger goal of securing the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Why it matters

Winning the division and conference were important milestones for the Avalanche, who have been in 'Stanley Cup or bust' mode for several seasons. Securing home-ice advantage could provide a crucial edge as they pursue their ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup.

The details

The Avalanche dominated the Blues for the first two periods, suffocating their opponent and creating numerous scoring chances. Despite the significant accomplishments, the team's locker room had a muted atmosphere, with coach Jared Bednar emphasizing that they still need one more win to clinch the Presidents' Trophy. The Avalanche have been dealing with injuries to key players throughout the season, but have shown they can still play at a high level when their top skaters are healthy.

  • The Avalanche clinched the division and conference on April 8, 2026.
  • Eight years ago to the day, the Avalanche defeated the Blues in a winner-take-all Game 82 to return to the playoffs.

The players

Jared Bednar

The head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, who has guided the team to consistent success in recent seasons.

Gabe Landeskog

The captain of the Colorado Avalanche, who has been a key part of the team's core group for many years.

Nathan MacKinnon

A star forward for the Colorado Avalanche, who has been a driving force behind the team's success.

Scott Wedgewood

The goaltender for the Colorado Avalanche, who has provided strong performances in net during the team's playoff push.

Carolina Hurricanes

The team that the Avalanche are competing with to secure the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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What they’re saying

“We're not all the way there yet. The goal for us started with winning the division and the conference (but) we still need another win to get first overall.”

— Jared Bednar, Head Coach, Colorado Avalanche

“I really liked our game (Tuesday) night. I thought all four lines checked really hard. We created a lot of scoring chances.”

— Gabe Landeskog, Captain, Colorado Avalanche

“Home ice is super important. It's an advantage. You spend more days at home in between rounds. Hopefully that will pay dividends for us.”

— Scott Wedgewood, Goaltender, Colorado Avalanche

What’s next

The Avalanche need a combination of two points gained or two points lost by the Carolina Hurricanes to clinch the Presidents' Trophy and secure home-ice advantage through the Stanley Cup Final. The team's focus will also be on getting healthy and seeing strong performances from backup goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood in the final games of the regular season.

The takeaway

The Avalanche's consistent success and focus on the process that led to their historic start have them poised for a deep playoff run. While they remain humble about their accomplishments, securing home-ice advantage could provide a crucial edge as they pursue their ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup.