The defending Stanley Cup champions take on the best team in the NHL on Thursday night, as the Florida Panthers pay a visit to the Colorado Avalanche in a marquee matchup.

The Colorado Avalanche honored the Stanley Cup champions from 30 years ago, then the current club worked over the two-time defending champs.

The Florida Panthers visit the Colorado Avalanche after Sam Bennett scored two goals in the Panthers' 4-3 win against the Utah Mammoth

The Avalanche had run roughshod over the entire Central Division this season, but when a controversial call cost Colorado their 17-game point streak, HC Jared Bednar didn't hold back his displeasure.

This edition of the Colorado Avalanche has been so consistently good that Jared Bednar, often a tinkerer when he’s looking for a spark, hasn’t needed to turn the line blender on very

The Nashville Predators play the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on Dec. 13. On Dec. 11, Steven Stamkos tied a franchise record with four goals against the St. Louis Blues in a 7-2 win for the Predators. Nashville (12-14-4, 28 points) has won six of its last eight games but is still in eighth place in the Central Division.

Cale Makar's game-tying goal with eight seconds remaining in regulation helped the Avalanche secure a point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday. Brock Nelson and Artturi Lehkonen also scored for Colorado, while Martin Necas posted two assists.