At this point, Colorado is a team of undeniably Cup-worthy talent but unreliable championship habits.

Yes, this is Nathan MacKinnon’s team. On some nights, when MacK is flying, it seems as if the fate of the entire NHL universe turns on the blade on his skates.

Although nearly as dominant as any MVP candidate can be, MacKinnon cannot carry the Avalanche every minute during the long grind of the regular season. Colorado won’t win 16 playoff games and raise the Stanley Cup without major contributions from his teammates.

Through 46 games, what we’ve seen from the Avalanche is a group still trying to figure each other out and establish an identity sturdy enough to withstand the strain of adversity certain to be encountered during the playoffs. While young defenseman Cale Makar and captain Gabe Landeskog are big talents, a team must win all the little battles and button down every detail in order to win a championship.

-Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post where you can read more on the Avalanche.