The Avalanche And Wild's Slugfest Deserves To Be The NHL's Western Final
DENVER - The Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild delivered an instant classic at Ball Arena on Sunday.
Fifteen goals, relentless momentum swings, bone-rattling hits, visible blood and chaos at every turn meant every fan in the building, regardless of allegiance, was locked in from start to finish.
The Avalanche's 9-6 win felt like a defining game deep in June. Instead, it was only Game 1 of a second-round series.
Dallas Stars' Matt Duchene Blasts NHL Playoff Format: 'They Have To Fix It'
With Dallas facing Minnesota in the first round, it's a guarantee that one of the top-3 teams in the Western Conference will be eliminated early on in the playoffs.
Ratings Rebound, Urgency Disappears
If the format were hurting business, this conversation would look very different.
In 2025, there were warning signs. U.S. viewership saw a notable drop from the previous year's surge, which was one of the most-watched post-seasons the league had seen.
But any concern has been short-lived. The 2026 playoffs have opened with a significant ratings rebound across ESPN and TNT, effectively cooling any urgency for change. As long as the numbers climb, the league has little incentive to overhaul a system that still delivers commercially.
Contenders, Cannibalized
The competitive imbalance, however, is harder to dismiss.
Take the Central Division this season. The Avalanche, Stars and Wild all finished with elite records and legitimate championship aspirations. They were the top three teams in the Western Conference.
Under a conference-based system, all three would be positioned for deep runs.
Under this format, they're forced to eliminate one another early. Only one can reach the Western Conference final, no matter how they compare to the rest of the field.
This Isn't Dallas: Avalanche Expose Wild Off The Rush In 9-6 Win
Colorado's relentless speed turned a defensive clinic into a chaotic track meet, shredding Minnesota's neutral zone coverage and proving that high-scoring efforts mean nothing without rush discipline.
That reality has reignited calls for a return to a conference-based seeding model - one through eight, strictly by record. It's a cleaner approach that rewards performance and mirrors the structure used in the NBA.
It also isn't unfamiliar territory; the NHL operated this way for nearly two decades before shifting formats in 2013.
And yet, for all the criticism, change still feels distant.
In the NHL's view, the fundamental principle hasn't been compromised. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best, regardless of when that challenge arrives.
That's where the debate ultimately settles. The playoffs are compelling. The ratings are strong. The business is healthy.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Hockey News
This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 11:51 AM.