Red Wings, Avalanche renew rivalry from lower range of vision

Detroit versus Colorado was a big rivalry two decades ago. Bad blood fomented through numerous postseason series, and the survivor went on to win it all five times in a span of seven seasons.

But when the Red Wings and Avalanche face off Wednesday night in Denver, the intensity of those meetings won't be present. Instead the teams, now in opposite conferences, are focused on just playoff positioning and not delivering a message for the postseason.

Detroit is trying to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 when its streak of appearances ended at 25 straight seasons. The Red Wings have not won a playoff series since 2013 but they are poised to break through this year.

Detroit currently holds the top wild card in the Eastern Conference but has dropped two straight. Now it has to go to Colorado without captain Dylan Larkin, who is out for at least two weeks with a lower-body injury.

Larkin's absence is a big one. He centers the top line, plays on both special teams units and leads the team in goals (26) and points (54). The Red Wings were 1-3 when he was out with an upper-body injury in December but were missing other players, too.

"I think everyone has got to do a little bit more. They understand the task," Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. "This group has been pretty good battling in the moment, hence our third period comeback record. Even our last road trip, we lose the first two games, we're on the back end of it and have a pretty good road trip. The moment right now is Colorado and our current road trip and we'll have to battle and grind for every point available."

This will be J.T. Compher's first game in Denver since signing with Detroit last offseason. Compher was a key member of the Avalanche's Stanley Cup victory in 2022 but was a cap casualty after last year.

Colorado retooled, adding Ross Colton, Miles Wood and Ryan Johansen in the offseason, and now sit third in the Central Division with 19 games left. The Avalanche have been without Valeri Nichushkin since he entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program in mid-January but he is close to returning.

Nichushkin has 22 goals and 20 assists in 42 games, so his absence has been felt. He won't play Wednesday but is close to getting back in the lineup.

The Red Wings face a difficult task against a Colorado team that is 24-6-0 at home, a record that is due in some part to Nathan MacKinnon's play. MacKinnon has recorded at least one point in all 30 home games. He can tie Mario Lemieux (1995-96) and Bryan Trottier (1981-82) for the fifth-longest streak if he records a point against Detroit.

Wayne Gretzky's 40-game streak in 1988-89 is the NHL record.

"Just feel good this year on home ice, for whatever reason," said MacKinnon, whose 105 points is tied with Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov for the NHL lead in scoring.