The first game between Colorado and Carolina featured two goals, including one on an empty net last month in Raleigh, N.C.
The rematch was a heavyweight shootout Saturday night at Ball Arena, with the Avalanche skating off a 7-4 winner in a wild one over the Hurricanes.
Colorado flexed its offensive muscle against the Eastern Conference’s second-best team to clinch the Central Division title and the Western Conference’s No. 1 playoff seed.
It was goals galore for the Avs, who were held scoreless five weeks ago in Carolina. Centers Nathan MacKinnon and J.T. Compher led the way on Saturday with two goals apiece, and winger Mikko Rantanen had three points on a goal and two assists as Colorado reached an NHL-high 116 points — just two shy of the club’s single-season record.