A Record That Stands the Test of Time
The Colorado Avalanche have turned opening‑night games into a showcase of consistency, posting a 27‑12‑1 record that stretches from the franchise’s Quebec Nordiques days to the present.
That winning percentage of .663 places them third overall in NHL history, trailing only the Vegas Golden Knights and the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have each carved out even more impressive opening‑night résumés.
In recent memory the Avalanche have won eight of their last ten season‑opening contests, with the only blemishes coming in the shortened 2020‑21 campaign and the most recent 2024‑25 matchup.
This year the team will meet the Los Angeles Kings for the third time as their opening‑night opponent, a pairing that ranks tied for fourth‑most frequent in franchise history.
Beyond the Kings, the Avalanche have also faced the Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks more often than any other opponents since the club relocated to Denver in 1995, underscoring the recurring nature of these early‑season confrontations.
The pattern reflects more than mere scheduling quirks; it speaks to the league’s effort to pit marquee teams against one another when the spotlight is brightest, and it gives fans a first‑glance gauge of each club’s championship aspirations.