The Colorado Avalanche had royalty in the building on Thursday night at Ball Arena.
And the current team put on a show for some of the franchise greats.
The Avs honored their 1995-96 Stanley Cup winning team while hosting the Florida Panthers, the team that squad beat to win it all in their first season in Colorado. It was the first major sports championship the city of Denver ever claimed.
Big names like Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Claude Lemieux were all present, with fan-favorites like Mike Ricci and Mike Keane as well. In all, 17 former players made the trip back. Patrick Roy and Adam Foote couldn’t be there because they’re current NHL head coaches with the Islanders and Canucks, respectively.
30 years ago and it feels like yesterday ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/PSE8Z8Nd5H
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 12, 2025
On the ice, the Avalanche couldn’t be stopped, which has been the case most of the season. They cruised past the Panthers 6-2, a team that has won back-to-back titles.
Sam Malinski, Brock Nelson, Gavin Brindley, Nathan MacKinnon, Artturi Lehkonen and Gabriel Landeskog all found the back of the net. It was 2-1 Colorado after the first period and turned into a laugher in the second with the Avalanche adding three more goals to take a 5-1 advantage.
MacKinnon actually passed Sakic for most goals ever in an Avalanche sweater with 392 to Sakic’s 391. Super Joe still holds the franchise record (counting the Quebec Nordiques) with 625 tallies.
Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood made 23 saves and Colorado is now a ridiculous 22-2-7 on the season.
If they keep playing so well, the 2025-26 Avalanche could join the 1995-96 team as Stanley Cup champions. With both past and present in the building, this version of the Avs put on another show.
