DENVER — The NHL's worst team last season has become one of the league's biggest success stories and, indeed, sniffing the Western Conference playoffs.
The Avalanche, which played its 41st game Saturday to reach the midpoint of the season, extended its winning streak to five games and won for the 22nd time on the season to match the win total from the disaster that was 2016-17.
In a chippy game at the Pepsi Center following Milan Hejduk's jersey retirement ceremony, Colorado never trailed and went on to pound Central Division rival Minnesota 7-2 behind six goal-scorers. The Avs, who scored three power-play goals — two from Carl Soderberg — improved to 22-16-3 to tie Minnesota (22-17-3) for the eighth and final playoff spot with 47 points.