CHICAGO (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche became the first NHL team to clinch a playoff spot on Friday night. That development had been just a matter of time for a while. But the way they secured the franchise's ninth consecutive postseason appearance,

The Colorado Avalanche are at risk of losing the No. 1 spot in the Central Division. But they are on the verge of being the first team this NHL season to clinch a playoff berth. Here's how.

With two more 30-goal scorers in Martin Nečas and Brock Nelson and the goalie tandem of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood combining for a .910 save percentage, the Avalanche will hope they have enough depth behind Makar and MacKinnon to make a deep run this spring.

It is home to the League’s best team almost since the puck dropped in October in the Colorado Avalanche, who are 44-13-9 with a League-high 97 points.  It is home to the League’s hottest team in the Dallas Stars (42-15-10),

Stars would be in great shape if they can overtake the Avalanche and take first place in the Western Conference

Welcome back to this edition of NHL Predictions! Tonight, the Chicago Blackhawks face the league-leading Colorado Avalanche. Each day, our writers here at Last Word On Hockey analyze the day’s games and provide in-depth analysis.

Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record has fallen at the hands of Alex Ovechkin. In the moments after Ovechkin scored his 895th goal, Gretzky was one of the first ones on the ice to congratulate him.