Presidents' Trophy Secured: Avalanche Shut Out Kraken to Set Points Record
Presidents' Trophy Secured: Avalanche Shut Out Kraken to Set Points Record
The Colorado Avalanche officially crowned themselves the kings of the NHL regular season on Thursday night, defeating the Seattle Kraken 2-0 to clinch the Presidents' Trophy. In a disciplined and clinical performance at Ball Arena, Scott Wedgewood earned his 31st win and fourth shutout of the season, stopping all 22 shots he faced. The victory propelled the Avalanche to a franchise-record 121 points, surpassing the 119-point mark set by the 2021-22 Stanley Cup championship squad.
Despite resting several star players, including Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas, Colorado’s depth was on full display. Nick Blankenburg emerged as the unlikely offensive hero, scoring the go-ahead goal late in the second period after an earlier tally was overturned following a Seattle offside challenge. Blankenburg’s persistence rewarded an Avalanche team that controlled the pace of the game from the outset, outshooting the Kraken 33-22 and neutralising Seattle’s transition game with suffocating neutral-zone pressure.
Defense Leads the Way for Colorado
The game served as a defensive masterclass for the Avalanche, who finished the year with a record of 54-16-11. Parker Kelly added an insurance goal in the third period, set up by a brilliant cross-crease pass from Valeri Nichushkin, who finished with two assists. The shutout was a testament to the system implemented by coach Jared Bednar, who returned to the bench after a brief absence. Colorado’s penalty kill was also perfect on the night, denying Seattle on all three of their power-play opportunities.
While the Avalanche are celebrating a historic regular season, they are well aware that the real work begins Sunday when they host the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of the playoffs. Nathan MacKinnon will enter the postseason as the league’s goal-scoring leader, having captured the Rocket Richard Trophy with a career-high 53 goals. With 127 total points, MacKinnon has solidified his status as a Hart Trophy favorite and the engine behind Colorado’s record-breaking campaign.
Kraken Look Toward the Future
The Seattle Kraken (34-37-11) end their season with a seventh consecutive loss to Colorado, a frustrating conclusion to a campaign that saw them miss the playoffs. Goaltender Victor Ostman made his first career NHL start and was impressive despite the result, turning aside 31 shots to keep the Kraken within striking distance for most of the night. Seattle’s offense, however, struggled to find any rhythm in the absence of Jared McCann, who was sidelined with a season-ending lower-body injury.
Seattle enters the summer with several key pieces in place, including Jordan Eberle, who led the team with 55 points, and rookie Matty Beniers, who showed flashes of brilliance despite a dip in production late in the year. The Kraken will have high hopes for a healthy return from their defensive corps next fall, but for now, they must watch from the sidelines as the Avalanche pursue their second Stanley Cup in five years. Colorado’s 121-point season has set a new standard in Denver, and the focus is now squarely on bringing the silver trophy back to Mile High City.
