Hockey fans have plenty to celebrate this weekend. The NHL returns to the Olympics for the first time since 2014, and the Boston Bruins face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2026 Stadium Series on Sunday. But first, ABC delivers a Saturday doubleheader starting with the Colorado Avalanche at the Detroit Red Wings at 1 p.m. ET from Little Caesars Arena.
This clash revives one of hockey’s most storied rivalries, linked forever to the 1997 brawl known as Fight Night at the Joe. A potential Stanley Cup Final preview pits the top-ranked Avalanche against the seventh-ranked Red Wings. Here’s what to watch.
Colorado Avalanche: League leaders on a roll
The Avalanche enter with a 35-8-9 record and 79 points, sitting atop the NHL power rankings.
Nathan MacKinnon leads the way with 38 goals and 50 assists. He’s on pace for 141 points if he plays all remaining games, which would mark his second 140-point season.
Colorado boasts multiple 10-game winning streaks this year. They join rare company as the fourth team in NHL history with multiple double-digit streaks, alongside the 2019-20 Lightning, 1970-71 Bruins and 1929-30 Bruins.
In net, Scott Wedgewood ranks fourth in save percentage at .918 among qualifiers. Mackenzie Blackwood is 15th at .909.
Cale Makar dominates defensemen stats since his 2019-20 debut. He leads in goals (131), points (484), power-play goals (198) and game-winners (28).
Brock Nelson is in his eighth 25-goal season. That ties Alex DeBrincat and Kyle Connor for third among active American players, behind Patrick Kane and Auston Matthews.
- Key Avalanche stats:
Player Highlight MacKinnon Pace for 141 points Makar Leads D in PPG, GWG since debut Wedgewood 4th in SV% (.918)
Detroit Red Wings: Playoff drought nears end at home
The Red Wings sit at 32-17-6 with 70 points and the No. 7 power ranking. Lucas Raymond paces scoring with 18 goals and 40 assists.
Little Caesars Arena, open since 2017, has hosted 351 regular-season home games without a playoff matchup. That’s second-most in NHL history before a playoff game, trailing only the Capital Centre’s 360.
John Gibson’s eight-game win streak snapped Tuesday against the Kings. He joins Bill Durnan as the second goalie with multiple eight-game streaks in his first season with a team.
Patrick Kane reached 1,375 career points, passing Mike Modano for most by a U.S.-born player. He also hit 500 goals as the fifth American skater to do so.
Dylan Larkin has 25 goals and eyes a fifth straight 30-goal season. That would tie Gordie Howe and Brendan Shanahan for second-longest in franchise history behind Steve Yzerman’s seven.
Raymond nears franchise marks for young players. His 116 career goals put him one shy of Sergei Fedorov’s 117 for fourth-most by a Red Wing age 23 or younger.
- Red Wings milestones:
Player Achievement Kane 1,375 pts, most U.S.-born Larkin Chasing 5th 30G season Raymond 116 career goals at 23
Reviving the rivalry: From 1997 brawl to 2026 showdown
The Avalanche-Red Wings feud peaked with the March 26, 1997, brawl at Joe Louis Arena. Kris Draper’s hit sparked chaos, with 18 fighting majors and 144 penalty minutes.
Darren McCarty pummeled Claude Lemieux in revenge for Draper’s injury. The Wings won in OT, galvanizing their Stanley Cup run.
That intensity defined the late 1990s and early 2000s. The teams met in playoffs five times from 1996-2002, winning five Cups combined.
Now at Little Caesars, no playoff games yet. A strong home win could signal Detroit’s return to contention.
Colorado’s dominance meets Detroit’s momentum. MacKinnon vs. Larkin and Makar vs. Red Wings defense promise fireworks.
Historical bad blood adds edge. As one ex-Wing said of the 1997 night, “That was the day a champion was born.”
Key stats and matchups to watch
Watch MacKinnon’s pace against Kane’s veteran savvy. Both chase historic point totals.
Goalie duel: Wedgewood and Blackwood vs. Gibson. Detroit’s netminder brings streak experience.
Power play and early goals: Avalanche excel in streaks; Wings push at home.
- Head-to-head edges:
- Avs: Top power ranking, win streaks.
- Wings: Home motivation, U.S. stars peaking.
- Rivalry: Physicality could decide.
This game tests if Detroit can challenge Colorado’s throne. A Wings upset boosts playoff hopes; Avs win reinforces dominance.
Tune in Saturday on ABC. With Olympics looming, these matchups set the postseason tone. Expect intensity worthy of their history.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.