Next stop – Denver

May 27, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) and defenseman Devon Toews (7) celebrate after the Avalanche defeated the Blues in game six and won the second round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) and defenseman Devon Toews (7) celebrate after the Avalanche defeated the Blues in game six and won the second round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
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Last night the Colorado Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues in game six of their series to clinch a third round playoff berth against the Oilers.

For the Oilers, this will be their toughest test yet. I had a feeling the Oilers would be able to handle the teams within their division, but I was less confident once they got outside the division. I still feel the same way today.

The Avs have had more playoff success than the Oilers the last couple of years, but this will still be their first trip to the conference finals since 2002, almost as long as the Oilers.

The Avs had injury issues in their top six earlier in the year, but now they’re 100% healthy and thus will be a handful. The same can’t be said for their D corps, but they’re still a formidable bunch.

Let’s see how they match up.