Avalanche open Cup defense against Blackhawks

The last time anyone saw the Colorado Avalanche, they were sprawled on the ice in Tampa celebrating a dominant postseason run to the third Stanley Cup title in franchise history.

That late June night capped years of frustration for star Nathan MacKinnon, who had grumbled a year earlier that he hadn't won, ahem, "anything" in his career. He can't say that anymore, but the question becomes, can Colorado repeat as champion?