Colorado Just Locked Up the West, and Jared Bednar Isn't Done Yet

The Colorado Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues 3-1 on Tuesday night and clinched the Central Division and the Western Conference's top seed in one shot. But if you thought coach Jared Bednar was going to pop champagne and call it a night, think again.

"We're not all the way there yet," Bednar said right after the final buzzer. The man's already looking past the division crown at home ice throughout the playoffs. "The goal for us started with winning the division, the conference, we still need another win to get first overall. Like, we'd be crazy not to chase that at this point, right?"

This is the Avalanche's Third Time in Five Years

It's the third time in five seasons, and first since 2023, that Colorado finished as the top team in the conference. They've been there before with mixed results. That 2023 run ended in a first-round exit. But two years ago when they finished first in the West, they brought home the Stanley Cup. So yeah, the history is there. This team knows what it takes.

The Avalanche are sitting at 51-16-10 with 112 points, and they're on the cusp of clinching the President's Trophy for the best regular-season record in the entire league. That award comes with home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, which is exactly what Bednar and his squad are chasing.

Home Ice Matters, and the Numbers Back It

Here's something wild: the Avalanche actually have a better road record (27-7-5) than their home record at Ball Arena (24-9-5). Still, goaltender Scott Wedgewood made it clear why home ice is critical come playoff time.

"Just atmosphere, altitude, you're in your own bed the night before," Wedgewood said on the team's postgame show. "You've still got to perform. It doesn't mean you win because you're at home, but if you're able to knock a team out in five or six, you're home for that many more days."

Wedgewood also pointed out that playoff crowds bring energy. "The fans, you get them going with a couple of hits, playoff hockey's intense, and it'll pay in your favor," he said.

Colorado's been up and down over the last few games, but Bednar said this team has proven it can execute when the moment calls for it. Five games left in the regular season. The President's Trophy is within reach. This run isn't over.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.