Joel Kiviranta already had a nickname. “Kivi” is what teammates and coaches inside the Avalanche locker room have dubbed him over the years.

Ahead of Colorado’s 9-2 annihilation of the Calgary Flames at Ball Arena on Monday, he learned of an updated nickname some in the media have given him: “Playoff Kivi.”

“I try to be,” he responded.

There’s a reason for it, though. It’s not that Kiviranta has been poor during the regular season with the Avalanche. It’s that this is the third season in a row where he’s become more noticeable for the Avalanche as the postseason draws closer. Of course, the “Playoff Kivi” mystique started before he signed with the Avalanche in 2023. Kiviranta’s Game 7 hat trick as a member of the Dallas Stars eliminated Colorado from the playoffs in 2020.

Colorado Avalanche left wing Joel Kiviranta (94) skates with the puck against Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Roy (3) during the second period of an NHL game, Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Although his regular-season usage has varied during his time in Denver, he’s become a regular, when healthy, in the playoffs for coach Jared Bednar each of the previous two years. The way he’s playing now, he’s making a sound case it should happen again.

Going into Saturday’s game against Winnipeg, Kiviranta held the second-best expected goals-for percentage in the NHL for all forwards who have played at least 120 minutes since the Olympic break. Not a lot of that is because of offense. Most of it is because when Kiviranta is on the ice, the Avalanche usually aren’t giving up much in terms of dangerous scoring chances for the opposing team.

Most of Kiviranta’s recent playing time has been spent on a line with Parker Kelly and Jack Drury, which has been Colorado’s most consistent trio for at least a week. When they get on the ice, Bednar has a good idea of what he’s going to get from them.

“We play the game the same way,” Kiviranta told The Denver Gazette. “Forechecking looks like it’s working for us and that’s what we want to do. (We’re) getting good forechecks and scoring chances off of that. That’s the biggest thing.”

So, what gives? Why does Kiviranta seem to elevate as the games get tighter and become more important?

He offered a theory.

“Maybe the biggest thing is (the) game is getting more simple (this time of year),” Kiviranta said. “I’m a pretty simple player, in my opinion, so maybe that’s why.”

Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene, right, drives past Colorado Avalanche left wing Joel Kiviranta in the third period of an NHL game Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

There are no surprises for Bednar when he puts Kiviranta on the ice, whether it’s at even strength or on the penalty kill. He knows exactly what he’s going to get each and every time. The 30-year-old Finn is a safety blanket for his coach.

“It’s habits. It’s determination, competitiveness,” Bednar said of Kiviranta’s success. “He’s a smart player and he’s one of those guys that you never really worry about his defending mentality and how hard he’s going to fight to keep the puck out of your net, whether that’s five-on-five or on the penalty kill.”

For now, Kiviranta is safe in the Avalanche lineup. When Nicolas Roy returns, which Bednar says will happen “long before the playoffs” get underway, the Avalanche bench boss will have some tough choices to make.

On paper, Kiviranta is the easy guy to take out of the lineup when Roy gets healthy. If an injury occurs or another forward isn’t holding up his end of the bargain, the organization knows it can dress the Finn in the postseason and he’ll do exactly what it expects him to do.

He’ll be ready if they call his number. There’s some healthy competition among the Avalanche forward group, and that’s not a bad thing.

“We have a really good team right now,” Kiviranta said. “Once we get everyone healthy, let’s hope we stay healthy too. Competition, I think, it’s good for everyone.”

Avalanche 9, Flames 2

What happened: The Avalanche had four goals and 19 shots before the Flames had even entered the game.

What went right: Colorado’s power play has been cooking since the Olympic break. It went 3-for-4 on Monday night and since the break, it’s converting on 27.5% of its opportunities. If it can carry that over to the postseason, no one will care about how poor it looked on the power play ahead of the break.

What went wrong: Cale Makar picked up three assists in the first 40 minutes of the game but did not return in the third period due to an upper-body injury. Bednar did not have an update on him after the game, stating that he’s being evaluated and they’ll know more Tuesday, which is an off day for the Avalanche.

Avalanche goal scorers: Drury (10), Kadri (15, 16), Landeskog (11), Kelly (18), MacKinnon (49), Necas (35), Malinski (5), Lehkonen (20)

Flames goal scorers: Othmann (2), Strome (7)

Between the pipes: Scott Wedgewood got the start, although he didn’t have to do much until the game was already out of reach, and finished with 27 saves.

What’s next: The Avalanche will host the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.