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Avalanche clinch playoff spot with dominant win over Blackhawks

Originally posted on Ball Exclusives | By Cameron Joyce | Last updated Mar 21, 2026 2:26 AM ET

The Colorado Avalanche became the first team to clinch its ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s the franchise’s ninth straight season making the playoffs.

OFFICIAL: Colorado Avalanche have clinched the first spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs #GoAvsGo

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) March 21, 2026

Martin Necas scored his 32nd goal of the season in the first period to make it 1-0 before Brock Nelson added another to double the Avalanche’s lead. Wyatt Kaiser was able to get one back for the Blackhawks in the second period, but it wasn’t enough as recently acquired Nazem Kadri scored 36 seconds into the third period. Valeri Nichushkin then added the final blow to the Blackhawks with his 15th goal of the season to clinch the win.

The Avalanche is also the first team this season to reach 100 points this season. The team has achieved 100 or more points in each of the last five seasons.

As for the Blackhawks, it looks like the team will miss the playoffs once again. The franchise that once won three Stanley Cups in the 2010s will now most likely miss the playoffs for the eighth time in the last nine years.

This article first appeared on Ball Exclusives and was syndicated with permission.

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