Benfred: Winning Teams Make Cardinals Look Like Also-rans

The Colorado Avalanche has been the NHL’s best offense in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but it might get a needed boost against the stingy Dallas Stars. Jonathan Drouin skated in his normal spot with the first power-play unit Monday morning and could return to the Avs lineup in Game 4 against the Stars at Ball Arena. “He’s a good player — really good player,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said.

The NBA wants eyeballs on the games — even if they are bloodshot. As fans basked in the euphoria of the Nuggets’ Game 3 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night, the league provided a buzz kill, and a reminder that money matters more than anything. Game 5 is now scheduled for 8:30 p.m.

Sean Payton was in the midst of making a point about something else Saturday after Day 2 of Broncos rookie minicamp when he noted one of the day’s clearest developments. Wide receiver Devaughn Vele, the seventh-round draft pick out of Utah, stood out during practice and not just because he’s 6-foot-4. “If you didn’t know, you would have said, ‘Man, Vele seems to have a pretty good rapport with Bo (Nix) today,’” Payton said. The point he set out to make was that Nix and fourth-round receiver Troy Franklin might benefit from having played together in college, but now that they’re rookies playing in a different offense, different league and with different teammates, that shared history might be, “a little overblown.” Anything can be overblown in May, but the Broncos head coach was clearly impressed by Vele, the 26-year-old rookie. “He’s got good instincts and he has really, really good ball skills,” Payton said.

Colorado’s return to Lincoln will be on national television. On Monday, it was announced that CU’s football game on Sept. 7 at Nebraska will kick off at 5:30 p.m. MT and air on NBC. The network announced the game time as part of its Upfront presentation, showcasing the network’s portfolio of sports, entertainment, news and streaming platforms to advertisers. CU kicks off its season under head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders on Aug.

Sean Keeler: Just like they drew it up, right? OK, so maybe the Nuggets took the long way — about 1,820 miles up and back from the Twin Cities — to grab home court again. But Lady Mo(mentum) is Lady Mo, and we’ve got a best-of-three on the hoops side.

MINNEAPOLIS — Michael Porter Jr. stood beneath the path of the basketball, between a miracle shot’s birthplace and its resting place. Even before it sailed over his head, he was in full “Gladiator” mode, arms outstretched prematurely, basking in the glory of the arc. Minnesota was not entertained. “I just had a good angle to see the trajectory of the shot,” Porter told The Denver Post.