🏒 Stanley Cup Predictions: Why the Colorado Avalanche Will Win Stanley Cup
The 2026 playoffs will go down in history as the one when the 12-year Presidents' Trophy curse ended.
I usually have an aversion to chalk in all forms, but I cannot get the NHL's best team off my mind, and I explain why they're going to win it all for the second time in six years in my Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup predictions. While no team is perfect, I believe the Avs will turn most weaknesses into strengths while overcoming those they don't.
π Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup odds
| Market | Odds | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Stanley Cup | +300 | 3u to win +9u |
| Western Conference | +165 | 3u to win +4.95u |
As I'm backing the Avalanche to win the Stanley Cup, it makes sense to throw in a pick at the best sports betting sites for them to win the Western Conference. That way, I'll offset any losses if they fall in the Stanley Cup Final but lose. Each unit is $10, and I'd play the bet to +250.
💵 More Stanley Cup predictions
Our Dustin Saracini dives into why the Tampa Bay Lightning will win the Stanley Cup as part of his Stanley Cup predictions.
πΌ The case opens: MacKinnon, Makar & offensive depth
As if Nathan MacKinnon, the Hart Trophy odds favorite for most of the season, and Cale Makar aren't enough to strike the fear of an avalanche, Colorado is blessed with arguably the deepest roster, thanks to several key recent acquisitions.
Martin Necas scored the fourth-most points since the Olympic break, notching 38 in 26 games. Thatβs four more MacKinnon, who finished with the third-most points (127) behind Connor McDavid (138) and Nikita Kucherov (130) despite his slight late-season downturn.
Avs' league-best secondary scoring
All four units can inflict damage, and Jared Bednar won't be overly concerned with trying to match lines on the road.
Nazem Kadri, Brock Nelson, Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen offer the most formidable secondary scoring in the league, while players like Nicolas Roy, Parker Kelly, and Ross Colton take on the shutdown responsibilities better than most.
🏒 What are the Avs' weaknesses?
- 27th-ranked power play (Discussed below)
- Inexperienced goaltending (Discussed below)
- Not pushed during the regular season (Discussed below)
- Tied for 17th in one-goal games (14-4-11): I'm not concerned with this stat because of the 11 overtime defeats that came in 3-on-3 sessions or shootout, which have no bearing on playoff hockey.
π Turn the page: Is the goaltending good enough?
Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood formed the best goaltending tandem during the regular season.
- Wedgewood had the best GAA (2.07), save percentage (.921), and ranked 5th for goals saved above expected (22.1).
- Blackwood had the 8th-best GAA (2.51), a .907 save percentage, finishing with 8.3 goals saved above expected, tied for 19th.
However, the duo have just seven playoff starts between them, all by Blackwood in last season's first-round defeat to the Dallas Stars. Wedgewood, the presumed Game 1 starter, has four appearances under his belt.
Blackwood should learn from his mistakes against the Stars. Either way, I'm not worried, particularly as the Avalanche enjoyed one of the best playoffs (16-4) en route to the 2022 Stanley Cup with Darcy Kuemper and Pavel Francouz between the pipes.
If they can do it, so can the Woods, I profess as I concurrently knock on wood.
π₯ Case closed: Avs built for playoffs
Many previous Presidents' Trophy winners weren't built for the playoffs like Colorado. The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup with much of the same core, including Kadri, one of the team's most influential players during the 2022 run.
They're equally proficient at both ends of the rink, with the fewest goals allowed overall (2.40) and 5-on-5 (1.93) while netting the most overall (3.63) and 5-on-5 (3.23).
And I actually think their regular-season weaknesses will turn into strengths. With so much talent on their power play, I expect it to come to life. While they weren't pushed like other teams fighting for their playoff lives, the Avs have a higher, more powerful gear to call upon.
π Colorado Avalanche stats 2026
| Category | Value | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 55β16β11 | 1 |
| Home Record | 26-9-6 | 3 |
| Goals For Per Game | 3.63 | 1 |
| Goals Against Per Game | 2.40 | 1 |
| Goals For 5-on-5 | 3.23 | 1 |
| Goals Against 5-on-5 | 1.93 | 1 |
| Power Play % | 17.1% | 27 |
| Penalty Kill % | 84.6% | 1 |
| 1-Goal Game Record | 14-4-11 | T17 |
| Scoring First Record | 42-2-6 | 1 |
| Conceding First Record | 13-14-5 | 6 |
| Goals For Above Expected | 13.08 | 7 |
| Goals Against Above Expected | -25.65 | 3 |
| High Danger Shots Against | 144 | T6 |
π‘ NHL award odds & predictions
- NHL award predictions
- NHL playoff predictions
- Stanley Cup predictions
- Hart Trophy odds
- Norris Trophy odds
- Vezina Trophy odds
- Calder Trophy odds
- Jack Adams Award odds
📃 Affiliate disclosure
Sportsbook Review may receive a commission if you sign up through our links. Not intended for use in MA. Bonuses not applicable in Ontario. 21+ only. (Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
Related Articles
