The Colorado Avalanche were one of the last playoff teams to punch their ticket last spring, coming down to the wire as both they and the Arizona Coyotes out west battled to take the second Western Conference Wild Card spot all the way through to Game 81.
The Avalanche ultimately won out and earned the right to play the Playoff Cinderella role, but on Saturday night they’ll face off against a Coyotes team boasting a handful of key new faces and riding high from a dominant win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Glendale on Thursday.
With a narrowly-missed playoff spot still fresh in their minds and a fanbase they’re desperate to keep pleasing, the Coyotes — like the Bruins on Thursday — won’t be an easy team to face as Colorado looks to keep their undefeated streak alive.