Next-Day Avalanche Takeaways

Easy win over Ducks sets up showdown with Wild, plus 3 Best Bets for tonight

The Avalanche, once again, are a wagon.

They’ve won three in a row and are 9-1-0 in the last 10. They are playing their best hockey of the season, with the playoffs only about three weeks away. While injuries remain, technically they are getting healthier, with fewer guys on the injured list than at most times before this point in the season.

Now the defending Stanley Cup champs can seize first place in the Central Division with a victory Wednesday night over the Minnesota Wild at Ball Arena.

Anyone want to bet against the Avs? I know I don’t.

The Wild have 95 points. They’ve played 74 games. Eight more to go. The Avs have 94 points. They’ve played 73 games. Nine more to go. That game in hand can become even more valuable with an Avs regulation victory over Minnesota.

Of course, the Dallas Stars are still in the mix for the Central title too, with 92 points in 73 games.

Points 93 and 94 came last night in Anaheim, with Jonas Johansson making 29 saves in a 5-1 victory. Nathan MacKinnon, in game No. 700 of his career, had a goal and an assist.

“That’s no slouch of a team over there. Those guys are the champs and it looks like they’re just ramping it up now and getting ready for another run at it,” Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins told team PR.

MacKinnon has just been tremendous of late, with Cale Makar taking note.