Jul 17, 2026 - Sports

5 can't-miss Colorado Avalanche games

Esteban L. Hernandez

Ice hockey scene: a goalie in maroon and white guards the net while two players, one in maroon/white and one in gold, battle for a puck midair; crowd and referee in background. — The Avs in action against the Vegas Golden Knights during last season's ill-fated Western Conference Finals. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The Colorado Avalanche return to the ice this fall with the same mission as every year: returning Lord Stanley to its rightful home in Denver.

State of play: The team released its 84-game NHL schedule on Thursday, with the upcoming season featuring the most games in a season since 1993-94.

Colorado has 28 matchups against Central Division foes, split evenly between home and away.
The Avs will take on Pacific Division opponents 24 times and have 32 games against Eastern Conference teams.

Zoom in: We wanted to highlight five games both die-hard and casual fans will want to watch.

Los Angeles Kings (Sept. 30): The franchise's season opener sees Colorado host the rival they swept last season during a dominant first-round playoff series.
Pittsburgh Penguins (Oct. 16): Colorado hosts superstar Sidney Crosby for a shot at making a statement against a playoff contender.
Carolina Hurricanes (Dec. 18): The defending Stanley Cup champs visit Ball Arena for an intriguing tilt.
at Utah Mammoth (Dec. 31): The 2027 Discover NHL Winter Classic pits the division rivals for a marquee matchup at the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
at Vegas Golden Knights (Jan. 2): It's revenge time in Sin City.

What's next: The Avs host the Mammoth for a preseason exhibition game Sept. 20.

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5 can't-miss Colorado Avalanche games

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