The Colorado Avalanche returned home to Ball Arena on March 25, 2025, following a successful three-game road trip that saw them secure two wins against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens, ultimately finishing with a record of 2-1-0. With a solid performance, the Avalanche currently occupy the third place in the Central Division standings, boasting 89 points and trailing the Dallas Stars by five points. The Minnesota Wild are closely nipping at the Avalanche’s heels, occupying the first wild card spot with a mere four points difference.
Facing off against the Detroit Red Wings, who are also vying for a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, the Avalanche know that every point counts in this critical stretch of the season. Head Coach Jared Bednar is keenly aware of the implications of these remaining games, stating, "We’re trying to track down Dallas and stay ahead of [Minnesota], but I think big picture, if we get to where we want to go, we can gain back home ice if we stay ahead of six or seven teams that we’re also fighting with in [our] conference, in the league.”
With the post-season rapidly approaching, there are 11 games left for the Avalanche. There are 22 possible points on the line, and Bednar emphasized the motivation behind their play saying, "I think it's important to have something to push for, and I think we certainly do at this point, as well as not losing sight of still fine-tuning our game and experimenting with some things that we want to see and that could possibly help us in the playoffs.”
The matchup against Detroit is particularly important for both teams, as the Red Wings, currently sitting at 33-31-6, are also trying to gain ground in the playoff race. After a recent win against the Utah Hockey Club, the Red Wings' chances have slightly improved, now at 7.1% according to MoneyPuck.com. Coach Todd McLellan noted the grit shown by his team, especially goaltender Alex Lyon, who despite facing limited shots, made crucial saves in their last game.
For the upcoming game at Ball Arena, the Avalanche announced a few roster updates after their morning skate. Mackenzie Blackwood was named to start in goal against the Red Wings, while Sam Girard, Logan O’Connor, and Parker Kelly will also return to the lineup. In contrast, Erik Johnson remains out with a lower-body injury, and Jacob MacDonald, who had been called up from the Colorado Eagles (AHL), will not play.
Looking ahead, the Avalanche are eager to capitalize on their home advantage while fine-tuning their strategies. As Bednar mentioned, it’s vital to ''not lose sight of still fine-tuning our game'' as they prepare for the final stretch of the regular season and beyond.
Maintaining their winning momentum will be key, as Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL in points and assists, while Cale Makar leads NHL defensemen in multiple scoring categories. Their performance will be pivotal as the Avalanche aim for playoff readiness. Meanwhile, for the Red Wings, a strong showing against the Avalanche could further propel their playoff aspirations.
As the puck drops at 7:08 PM M.T., both teams will be looking to seize the opportunity for crucial points at this stage of the season. Whether the Avalanche can maintain their recent form against a determined Red Wings team remains to be seen. Fans can expect an exciting and intense encounter as two rival teams battling for the postseason come together on the ice.
