The Avalanche hasn’t trailed during its seven-game winning streak and its remarkable month-long success in penalty killing has last season’s worst NHL team on the playoff bubble with games in hand over most teams in front of it.
With 51 points, Colorado has multiple games in hand over Minnesota and Dallas, which are tied for the two Western Conference wildcard playoff spots with 53 points.
On the PK, the Avs were 2-for-2 Monday against the Anaheim Ducks and have now killed off 48 of their last 50 disadvantage situations. Their PK is now 131-for-155 (84.