#NHLPeachy @NHL NHL Morning Skate – May 14, 2021
THREE HARD LAPS
* Colorado scored five unanswered goals to rally past Los Angeles and clinch the 2020-21 Presidents’ Trophy, becoming the first team to claim the award in its final game of the season since Vancouver in 2011-12.
* The Avalanche’s win also finalized the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket, confirming that Colorado will meet St. Louis in a series for the first time since 2001 when current general manager Joe Sakic scored one of his NHL-record eight postseason overtime goals.
* The Maple Leafs and Jets conclude their regular season tonight at Bell MTS Place before opening First Round series versus the Canadiens and Oilers, respectively, next week.
AVALANCHE CLINCH PRESIDENTS' TROPHY IN SEASON FINALE
Tyson Jost scored the first two of Colorado’s five answered goals as the Avalanche (39-13-4, 82 points) claimed the 2020-21 Presidents’ Trophy as the team with the best overall record. Colorado, which captured its third Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history (also 1996-97 & 2000-01), finished as top seed over Vegas (40-14-2, 82 points) by virtue of the regulation wins tiebreaker (COL: 35, VGK: 30).
* The Avalanche became the fifth franchise to win the Presidents’ Trophy three or more times since its inception in 1985-86, following the Red Wings (6), Bruins (3), Capitals (3) and Rangers (3). Only Detroit (5) and Washington (3) have claimed the award as many times since the Avalanche began play in Denver in 1995-96.
* Colorado also clinched the No. 1 seed in the Honda West Division, the 12th division title in franchise history (10th since relocating) and second in the past 17 seasons (also 2013-14: Central Division).
BRACKET SET FOR 2021 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS
The Avalanche’s win on Thursday also finalized the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket, confirming First Round matchups between Colorado and St. Louis as well as Vegas and Minnesota.
* The Golden Knights and Wild will contest Game 1 at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday, May 16 at 3 p.m. ET, while the Avalanche and Blues will open their series at Ball Arena on Monday, May 17 at 10 p.m. ET. Click here to view the full schedule, starting times and national broadcast information for the 2021 First Round.
* Vegas and Minnesota will contest its first-ever head-to-head Stanley Cup Playoffs series. The Wild own the NHL's best regular-season record versus the Golden Knights, having only lost two games in regulation against the club since 2017-18 (11-2-3, 25 points).
* Colorado and St. Louis will meet in its second Stanley Cup Playoffs series and first since the 2001 Western Conference Final. The Avalanche, who won the Presidents’ Trophy that season, bested the Blues in five games en route to their second championship.
QUICK CLICKS
MAPLE LEAFS, JETS CONTEST SEASON FINALE AT BELL MTS PLACE
The Maple Leafs and Jets conclude their regular season tonight at Bell MTS Place before facing the Canadiens and Oilers, respectively, in the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Edmonton and Winnipeg will contest Game 1 at Rogers Place on Wednesday, May 19 at 9 p.m. ET, while Toronto and Montreal will open its series at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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