With the Dallas Stars‘ 3-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, they have clinched the Central Division, locking in a first-round matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets.
The Stars win bumps them to a Western Conference-best 111 points, and if the Vancouver Canucks lose Saturday, they will clinch home-ice advantage through the first three rounds.
As for the Jets and Avalanche, the series will mark the first time the two teams have ever squared off in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Winnipeg won the first two games of the season series in December, and held a big lead early against Colorado on Saturday in the third and final regular season matchup between the two teams.
The Jets had outscored the Avalanche 10-4 before Saturday.
Both squads entered Saturday’s game with 104 points, and after the conclusion of their head-to-head battle, each has two games remaining.
The Jets play the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday and Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, while the Avalanche play the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday and Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.
Winnipeg and Colorado are looking for a better showing in this year’s playoffs after being bounced in the first round last year. The Jets were eliminated in five games by the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights and the Avalanche were sent home after a Game 7 loss to the Seattle Kraken, failing to defend their 2022 Stanley Cup.
Meanwhile, the Stars still have a shot at the Presidents’ Trophy, trailing the New York Rangers by one point for the best total in the NHL.
Dallas has just one game remaining this season and will take on the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.
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