Apologies and respect to all Detroit Red Wings fans reading this who still harbor resentment from the best damn NHL rivalry known to mankind. I understand. Just skip the first two paragraphs if it preserves sanity.
The Colorado Avalanche have been on a steady ascension since Jared Bednar was named head coach in 2016. And this year, after bulldozing Norris Trophy finalist Roman Yosi and the Nashville Predators in the first round; downing a resilient St. Louis Blues team in the waning seconds of a series-clinching Game 6; sweeping Connor McDavid and the prolific Edmonton Oilers in a series that saw an average of 8.