Story perspectives

Avalanche Host Wild in Game 1, Possess Home-Ice Edge

5/3/2026

Summary

Story summary

Colorado Avalanche host Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of the conference semifinals on May 3 2026, 7 p.m. MT at Ball Arena, Denver.
Avalanche earned home-ice advantage with the Presidents’ Trophy (55-16-11); the Wild had 104 points, third in the Central.
Colorado swept the Kings 4-0; Minnesota beat the Stars 4-2 after winning the last three games.
Games air on TNT, truTV, ESPN and stream via DIRECTV, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, or ESPN app; Games 2-7 are May 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17.

History

Historical Context

In 1996 the newly relocated Colorado Avalanche turned a league-leading 112-point, 48-24-10 regular season into a sweep of the Florida Panthers, delivering Denver its first major pro-sports championship and becoming the first relocated team to win the Cup in its inaugural Colorado season. That pattern of regular-season dominance feeding playoff triumph frames the Avalanche’s 2026 Presidents’ Trophy run against the Minnesota Wild.

1 of 2

Story summary

Colorado Avalanche host Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of the conference semifinals on May 3 2026, 7 p.m. MT at Ball Arena, Denver.
Avalanche earned home-ice advantage with the Presidents’ Trophy (55-16-11); the Wild had 104 points, third in the Central.
Colorado swept the Kings 4-0; Minnesota beat the Stars 4-2 after winning the last three games.
Games air on TNT, truTV, ESPN and stream via DIRECTV, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, or ESPN app; Games 2-7 are May 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17.

1 / 2