NHL Rundown: Avalanche Treading Water, Red Wings Rising, and Panthers Stumble Hard
There’s no question the Colorado Avalanche are in a bit of a funk right now. But in the grand scheme of the Central Division, they’re still sitting pretty - largely because the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild are dealing with slumps of their own, and theirs are even more pronounced.
Let’s break it down.
Avalanche: Still Leading, But Searching for Rhythm
Mackenzie Blackwood made his return to the crease for Colorado, and early on, it showed he was shaking off some rust. He settled in as the game wore on, but the same can’t be said for the rest of the Avalanche lineup. There were flashes of the team we’re used to seeing, but consistency continues to be elusive.
Over their last six games, the Avs are 2-3-1 - not ideal, but it’s been enough to maintain their grip on the top spot in the Central. That says as much about their own resilience as it does about the struggles of the teams chasing them.
Dallas and Minnesota: Slumping at the Worst Time
The Stars and Wild didn’t take the ice on Thursday, but their recent performances have been hard to ignore.
Let’s start with Minnesota. Since their seven-game win streak was snapped in a 5-1 loss to Colorado, they’ve gone 4-5-4. That’s 13 games of mostly treading water - not enough to keep pace in a division where every point matters.
Dallas hasn’t fared much better. They’ve dropped seven of their last 11 games, going 2-5-4 since a four-game win streak that wrapped up just before Christmas. For a team with playoff aspirations, that kind of skid can be costly - and it’s already showing in the standings.
Red Wings Heating Up
Detroit’s quietly turning into one of the league’s most dangerous teams. They took care of business against the San Jose Sharks on Friday, notching their 17th home win and 29th overall. Only the Avalanche have more wins than Detroit this season, and that’s no small feat.
The Wings are getting it done with a balanced attack and strong play on home ice - a formula that’s proving tough to beat. If they keep this up, they won’t just be in the playoff mix - they’ll be a real threat.
Elsewhere Around the League
- Florida Panthers: It’s been a rocky ride for the two-time defending champs, and Thursday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes didn’t help. Florida got steamrolled by a fellow Eastern Conference contender, and it was the kind of loss that raises questions about where this team is headed.
- San Jose Sharks: Despite the loss in Detroit, there was a bright spot - Will Smith returned to the lineup. That’s a win in itself for a Sharks team that’s looking for building blocks.
- Montreal Canadiens: Keep an eye on Jacob Fowler. The young netminder has now played 10 NHL games, and while there’s still a lot of development ahead, the early returns are promising.
- Vegas Golden Knights: Mitch Marner didn’t say much before facing his former team, but after Vegas edged out the Maple Leafs in overtime, he opened up about what the win meant to him. It was a personal moment in a season full of professional stakes.
- Tampa Bay, Carolina, Boston: All three of these Eastern Conference squads have now passed both Dallas and Minnesota in total wins. And yes, the Bruins have more wins than the Wild - something that would’ve sounded surprising just a few weeks ago.
The Avalanche are still in control, but the margin for error is shrinking. Meanwhile, Detroit’s rise, Florida’s inconsistency, and Minnesota and Dallas’ struggles are reshaping the playoff picture across both conferences. We’re past the halfway point of the season - this is where the contenders start separating themselves from the pack.