And just like that the 2025-26 NHL Season has come to an end, a new Stanley Cup Champion has been crowned and while their celebration has just begun, the journey begins anew for 31 other clubs who will now restart their chase for the hardest trophy to win in sports. Today we’ll discuss Carolina’s dominance all the way through to their 34.5lb silver lift. Look at the winner and ultimate bragging rights holder of our bracket challenge. The Avalanche have already started making moves and this one was a forgone conclusion. Dom has another sneak peak at the Sharks drafting with an interesting piece. We revisit a missed discussion from last week with the NHL coaching carousel. We take some time to reflect on this season, both from the Avalanche side and this podcast's side of things and discuss with you, our loyal and amazing listeners, what’s next. This season is coming to an end and more on this week's episode of the Captain Avalanche Fancast.

Music:

"Burn The World Waltz" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

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Links:

Fun Facts about Carolina: https://media.nhl.com/public/news/19948

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There is a lot going on in the hockey world this week! So much so that despite trying to keep track of it all I likely still won’t remember it all! We dive head first into what has turned out to be one of the most exciting Stanley Cup Finals in recent memory. A former Av is trying to make their NHL comeback. Speaking of, what should the Avalanche do or what are they going to do this offseason? Captain Gabe Landeskog’s perseverance and journey is recognized. And who the heck are the Sharks actually going to draft? All this and more on this week's episode of the Captain Avalanche Fancast

Music:

"Burn The World Waltz" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

82-0 Game:

https://www.nhl-82-0.com/play

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Exactly as the title suggests we have prepared as thoroughly as is possible for what went wrong for the Colorado Avalanche against the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final and why. Not every question will have an answer but we'll endeavor to find it. We also wrap up our discussion on the IIHF World Championship as well as share some other exciting announcements. All this and more on this weeks episode of the Captain Avalanche Fancast.

Music:

"Burn The World Waltz" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Sources:

Evan Rawal - https://gazette.com/2026/05/27/how-it-all-fell-apart-for-the-avalanche-against-vegas-evans-take/

Aarif Deen - https://coloradohockeynow.com/10-takeaways-the-avalanche-wasted-a-dream-season-in-six-days/

Aarif Deen - https://coloradohockeynow.com/5-mind-boggling-stats-from-avalanches-wcf-collapse/

The Athletic - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7311471/2026/05/27/colorado-avalanche-sweep-conference-final-vegas-nhl-playoffs/

The Athletic - https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7310316/2026/05/26/avalanche-golden-knights-nhl-playoffs-game-4-score-result-takeaways/

NHL - https://www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-montreal-canadiens-meet-for-second-time-after-1st-wild-series-in-2010

Hockey Psychology - https://www.youtube.com/@hockeypsychology

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The journey for the Colorado Avalanche is over. The quest for the cup has once again been cut short. It is truly the hardest day as a sports fan to watch your team fall. But ultimately only one can come out on top. Today we will not analyze what, how or why as we will do so next week. But instead give you our kneejerk reactions and predictions on what's to come. But the playoffs are still happening and there is still and ECF to cover. Not to mention the IIHF World's is winding down as well with a championship imminent. All this and more on this weeks episode of the Captain Avalanche Fancast.

Music:

"Burn The World Waltz" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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That was single handedly one of the best game 7’s I’ve ever seen and it was between some of the youngest teams in recent Stanley Cup playoff history. The future is looking bright but is it bright enough to take down the juggernaut in Carolina? But before we discuss game 7 we still have to discuss game 6 which was a mirror of game 5. But before we even talk about the east we have to talk about the west and that’s where your Colorado Avalanche and VGK are facing off in game 1 of the WCF. Dom from the tank takes stock of other playoffs and other hockey competition. Of course, we’re also doing our weekly bracket check in. The Conference Finals have officially begun and only 4 teams remain. Who walks away with the Cup?Music:

"Burn The World Waltz" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here because this series is over. For the first time since 2022 the Colorado Avalanche are headed back to the Western Conference Final to face either Vegas or Anaheim. Tonight's contest could tell all or leave us in suspense. We’ll reflect on games 4 and 5, the series as a whole, as well as narrowing in on specific points, players, stats, the works. But regardless, your Colorado Avalanche are advancing once again in a rather convincing fashion. Meanwhile the Carolina Hurricanes patiently await their opponent in what is shaping up to be a series full of fireworks. 8 down and 8 to go today on the Captain Avalanche Fancast.

Music:

"Burn The World Waltz" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Our brackets are already busted, but some of yours aren't. We'll start you off today with a bracket check in on who is dominating at the moment and a surprising former Av who has picked it all perfectly so far. The funniest possible outcome just occurred in the NHL draft lottery and we will tell you all about it and what it means for the Sharks. Round 2 is, basically, well under way now and we’ll break down everything we’ve observed so far and give our second chance brackets a whirl. The Avalanche have a few individual award nominees with hopefully more on the way, but there is still only one trophy any one on the team wants. Finally a fun fact that is history in the making. All this and more on today’s episode of the Captain Avalanche Fancast.

Music:

"Burn The World Waltz" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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From no sweeps last year to two already this year. For the first time in NHL history the two conference winners both swept their first round opponents. That’s right the Carolina Hurricanes swept the Ottawa Senators in what ended up being an incredibly one sided matchup and then, not long after, the Colorado Avalanche completed their sweep of the Los Angeles Kings and a legend of the last generation saw his last shift on the ice. We’ll discuss the back half of that series today and how the Avalanche finally got to play their game. The Penguins avoided the sweep and are now looking to do the impossible. Some other series also could be said and done right now but every other team who seemed down and out has kept their season alive… for now. With all that being said, now is a great time to visit our bracket standings and to let all of you know how right or wrong you all are. If you miss watching Celebrini play hockey, we do too, but fret not for the World Championships have you covered. Speaking of, the first award nods of the season have started to come through and a name may sound familiar. These playoffs have been action packed every second and it is still far from over. All this and more on today’s playoff edition of the Captain Avalanche Fancast.Music:

"Burn The World Waltz" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

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Glass is being shattered both figuratively and literally. The 2026 playoffs have started off with many bangs and this may just be one of the most exciting in recent memory. There is a fight just about every whistles. Some teams are scoring every goal and others not so much. New rivalries are being born, fists are being thrown, and some teams are already on the brink.

Music:

"Burn The World Waltz" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT’S TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMMEEE!!!  THE 2026 PLAYOFFS HAVE ARRIVED AND TODAY, SATURDAY, EVERYTHING  KICKS OFF! THE INTENSITY IS THE BIGGEST ITS EVER BEEN! WE HAVE NEW CHALLENGERS! NEW MATCHUPS! NEW RIVALRIES SURE TO BE CREATED! AND BIGGEST OF ALL! A NEW STANLEY CUP CHAMPION WILL BE CROWNED! WHO WINS? WHO GOES HOME? Today we’ll bring you our brackets for this year's playoffs and we’ve changed up how we approach it compared to last year. Who do we think stands at the pinnacle at the end of it all? We revisit our preseason predictions and let you know how absolutely correct we were compared to our head spaces at the start of the year. The Avs played some games that didn’t mean much other than breaking regular season records, setting new personal bests, and securing some more trophies for players. But what me and you care about. Who do the Avalanche start in net for game 1 against the Kings this Sunday? The Sharks may have fallen a bit short of their ultimate goal but that doesn’t mean it’s all doom and gloom. We have one last in the tank section for you this week. The excitement meter just got cranked to 11. It’s the 2026 Stanley Cup Preview on the Captain Avalanche Fancast!Music:

"Burn The World Waltz" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Links:https://bracketchallenge.nhl.com/en/leagues/11831Password: CAF

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