The 2026 NHL playoffs are less than a month away and the league-leading Colorado Avalanche can be the first team to secure a playoff berth. All while defenseman Cale Makar approaches a historic milestone.
The Avalanche needs only one point against the 26-20-12 Chicago Blackhawks to clinch a playoff spot. If done tonight, it will mark the second fastest the club has secured a postseason berth during an 82-game season.
However, 27-year-old Cale Makar heads into the Blackhawks game with more than just a chance to clinch a playoff berth.
Makar sits at 497 points through 462 games. He needs three points during his next two outings to surpass Hall of Famer Denis Potvin for the third fewest games to reach the 500-point mark by any defenseman in NHL history.
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Cale Makar’s Historic Night Against The Dallas Stars Sets Up Colorado Avalanche For Big Night in Chicago
The Avalanche sit atop the NHL with a 44-13-10 record and 98 points. However, Central Division foes, the Dallas Stars, have been working hard to overtake that spot.
The Stars trail closely behind at 96 points and a 43-15-10 record following a shootout victory over the Avalanche on Wednesday, March 18.
Makar became the first defenseman with three consecutive 20-goal seasons, since Phil Housley had six from 1986-1992, and Al MacInnis from 1989-1992.
With that goal, it marked Makar’s fourth 20-goal season in his NHL career, which ties for the 10th most by a defenseman in NHL history.
Makar is in his seventh NHL season and has been with the Avalanche since his rookie season in 2019.
However, Makar was focused on the bigger picture and spoke about the need to get points as the race for first in the Central Division approaches the finish line.
“We knew what was at stake in this game — big points for the division,” Makar said in a postgame interview. “For guys to be able to come out and show up, it shows we’ve got a lot of gamers on this team, a lot of guys with character.”
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Avalanche Chases Second Stanley Cup Title in Five Years With Chance to Clinch Against Blackhawks
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