Deen’s Daily: Game 1 Date Released; Habs, Bolts Game 7; Malkin’s Honesty

TL;DR

The Colorado Avalanche's opening game date for the second round has been announced. The first round's best series will go to a Game 7, while Evgeni Malkin discussed his future candidly during locker cleanout day.

Key points

Avalanche's opening game date announced
Vegas advanced to the second round
One series reaching a Game 7 finale
Evgeni Malkin discussed his future

Colorado AvalancheVegas

NHL: Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche

Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn ImagesIsaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The date of the Avalanche’s opening game in the second round has been announced. Vegas became the fourth team from the Western Conference to advance. Meanwhile, the best series from the first round will be the only one to reach a Game 7 finale. Also, Evgeni Malkin was open and honest about his future during locker cleanout day.

All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — May 2.

Colorado Hockey Now

Only one more night separates the Colorado Avalanche from Game 1 of their second-round series against the Minnesota Wild. The rest of the schedule has not yet been announced, but this will at least get us started. It should be an electric atmosphere at Ball Arena.

The two teams have a pretty solid playoff history between them, and you can read more about it below. One thing I failed to mention in the piece, which I realized afterwards, is that the Minnesota Wild have only advanced past the first round three times in their franchise’s history. That two times they defeated the Avs in the opening round make up two of the three.

This will be the first meeting between the clubs beyonf the opening round.

In case you missed it, the finalists for Jack Adams were also announced on Friday. And Jared Bednar was not among them (shocker).

I’ll be in Minnesota later this week, continuing my playoff coverage from the road. Unfortunately, the expenses are adding up pretty quickly, and it’s getting more difficult to be at every game. If you enjoy the coverage here at Colorado Hockey Now and want to chip in to our travel budget, you can do so here via or . My goal remains to bring the best possible coverage from the rink and inside the locker room. Thank you all so much for being readers and supporters.