Colorado Avalanche Claim Presidents’ Trophy with Franchise-Best 121 Points

The Colorado Avalanche have officially secured their status as the NHL’s regular-season champions, defeating the Seattle Kraken 2-0 on Thursday night to clinch the Presidents' Trophy. The victory pushed the Avalanche to a franchise-record 121 points, surpassing the 119-point mark set by the legendary 2021-22 Stanley Cup-winning squad. In a game that saw several key stars rested in preparation for the postseason, Colorado’s depth players rose to the occasion, proving why the team is considered the favorite to win it all this spring. The winning goal came from defenseman Nick Blankenburg, who fired a second-period shot past the Seattle goaltender to break a scoreless tie.

Goaltender Scott Wedgewood was the backbone of the performance, earning a 22-save shutout for his 31st win of the season. Wedgewood’s fourth shutout of the campaign was a testament to the Avalanche’s defensive discipline, even as they played without some of their top-tier talent. Parker Kelly added an insurance goal in the third period, while Valeri Nichushkin contributed two assists to lead the offense. The Avalanche finish the season as the most dominant team in the Western Conference, led by Nathan MacKinnon, who captured the Rocket Richard Trophy with a career-high 53 goals. Cale Makar and Martin Necas also finished as team leaders in scoring, providing a multi-faceted attack that has haunted opposing defenses all year.

The Seattle Kraken, meanwhile, end a frustrating season with a record of 34-37-11. Despite the loss, rookie goaltender Victor Ostman impressed in his first career NHL start, turning back 33 shots and keeping his team competitive against the league’s top-ranked offense. Seattle struggled to find consistency on the power play, going 0-for-3 in the finale, a trend that defined much of their campaign. Jordan Eberle and Matty Beniers led the Kraken in scoring this season, but the team’s inability to find secondary production ultimately left them on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.

As the Avalanche prepare for a first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, the mood in Denver is one of focused determination. Head coach Jared Bednar returned to the bench for the finale after being sidelined by an injury, and his presence seemed to steady a lineup that was carefully managed to ensure health for the playoffs. Colorado’s 121-point campaign is a remarkable feat of consistency, but as the players and coaches have made clear, the Presidents' Trophy is only the first step toward their ultimate goal. With a healthy roster and a record-breaking momentum, the Avalanche are poised for another historic playoff run.