![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gazette.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26081659736187-1024x683.jpg\")
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)<\/p>\nJoel Kiviranta already had a nickname. \u201cKivi\u201d is what teammates and coaches inside the Avalanche locker room have dubbed him over the years.<\/p>\n
Ahead of Colorado\u2019s 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: \u201cPlayoff Kivi.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI try to be,\u201d he responded.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a reason for it, though. It\u2019s not that Kiviranta has been poor during the regular season with the Avalanche. It\u2019s that this is the third season in a row where he\u2019s become more noticeable for the Avalanche as the postseason draws closer. Of course, the \u201cPlayoff Kivi\u201d mystique started before he signed with the Avalanche in 2023. Kiviranta\u2019s Game 7 hat trick as a member of the Dallas Stars eliminated Colorado from the playoffs in 2020.<\/p>\n
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)<\/p>\n
Although his regular-season usage has varied during his time in Denver, he\u2019s become a regular, when healthy, in the playoffs for coach Jared Bednar each of the previous two years. The way he\u2019s playing now, he\u2019s making a sound case it should happen again.<\/p>\n
Going into Saturday\u2019s 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\u2019t giving up much in terms of dangerous scoring chances for the opposing team.<\/p>\n
Most of Kiviranta\u2019s recent playing time has been spent on a line with Parker Kelly and Jack Drury, which has been Colorado\u2019s most consistent trio for at least a week. When they get on the ice, Bednar has a good idea of what he\u2019s going to get from them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe play the game the same way,\u201d Kiviranta told The Denver Gazette. \u201cForechecking looks like it\u2019s working for us and that\u2019s what we want to do. (We\u2019re) getting good forechecks and scoring chances off of that. That\u2019s the biggest thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, what gives? Why does Kiviranta seem to elevate as the games get tighter and become more important?<\/p>\n
He offered a theory.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe the biggest thing is (the) game is getting more simple (this time of year),\u201d Kiviranta said. \u201cI\u2019m a pretty simple player, in my opinion, so maybe that\u2019s why.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gazette.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26078193214942-1024x683.jpg\")
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)<\/p>\n
There are no surprises for Bednar when he puts Kiviranta on the ice, whether it\u2019s at even strength or on the penalty kill. He knows exactly what he\u2019s going to get each and every time. The 30-year-old Finn is a safety blanket for his coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s habits. It\u2019s determination, competitiveness,\u201d Bednar said of Kiviranta\u2019s success. \u201cHe\u2019s a smart player and he\u2019s one of those guys that you never really worry about his defending mentality and how hard he\u2019s going to fight to keep the puck out of your net, whether that\u2019s five-on-five or on the penalty kill.\u201d<\/p>\n
For now, Kiviranta is safe in the Avalanche lineup. When Nicolas Roy returns, which Bednar says will happen \u201clong before the playoffs\u201d get underway, the Avalanche bench boss will have some tough choices to make.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t holding up his end of the bargain, the organization knows it can dress the Finn in the postseason and he\u2019ll do exactly what it expects him to do.<\/p>\n
He\u2019ll be ready if they call his number. There\u2019s some healthy competition among the Avalanche forward group, and that\u2019s not a bad thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a really good team right now,\u201d Kiviranta said. \u201cOnce we get everyone healthy, let\u2019s hope we stay healthy too. Competition, I think, it\u2019s good for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Avalanche 9, Flames 2<\/p>\n
What happened: The Avalanche had four goals and 19 shots before the Flames had even entered the game.<\/p>\n
What went right: Colorado\u2019s power play has been cooking since the Olympic break. It went 3-for-4 on Monday night and since the break, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s being evaluated and they\u2019ll know more Tuesday, which is an off day for the Avalanche.<\/p>\n
Avalanche goal scorers: Drury (10), Kadri (15, 16), Landeskog (11), Kelly (18), MacKinnon (49), Necas (35), Malinski (5), Lehkonen (20)<\/p>\n
Flames goal scorers: Othmann (2), Strome (7)<\/p>\n
Between the pipes: Scott Wedgewood got the start, although he didn\u2019t have to do much until the game was already out of reach, and finished with 27 saves.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s next: The Avalanche will host the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
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