Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE

When the NHL season came down to the wire the Avalanche flat out choked.  With two must-win games at the end of the season, and a rare five-day break before those two games, the Avs could not get the job done.  Playing against the worst team in the NHL in the first game, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Avs played as if their season was already over.  They showed little hop and exuded less than average offensive pressure even before they knew the outcome of the San Jose game that ultimately sealed their fate.

In the final game of the season either the Avalanche had totally cashed-out or Nashville was just that good.  No matter what the reason, the fans at Pepsi Center on that final game-day had only one thing to cheer about; the hopes of getting a game-worn jersey off of the back of their favorite Avalanche player.  The Predators out muscled and out played Colorado in every aspect of the game.  If there was ever a time for a team to “hit their stride,” Nashville sure showed that their time is now.

All might not be lost in the Colorado Avalanche’s season.  The saving grace may be Gabriel Landeskog receiving the Calder Trophy for the league’s best rookie.  With the highest draft pick ever in Avalanche history, Landeskog had a lot to live up to.  Luckilly, acquiring Landy in the draft panned out, as the Avs benefitted from his physical prowess and offensive threat on the ice.

The Avalanche finished the 2011-2012 campaign in a very disappointing 11^th place with 88 points.  If we look to the silver lining of this clouded season, the future of the club looks very promising.  With the play of goaltender Semyon Varlamov and forward Gabriel Landeskog only going to improve, the Avs look like they are going to become a force to be reckoned with in the West for years to come.

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Colorado Avalanche End Their Season With Disappointing Losses - Mile High Sticking - Mile High Sticking - A Colorado Avalanche Blog

Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE

Tonight will certainly tell the tale of whether or not the Colorado Avalanche make the playoffs.  The first thing the Avs must do tonight is win.  The second is to root for the Los Angeles Kings to take care of the Sharks in regulation.  If either of those two things does not take place, the Avalanche can kiss the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs goodbye.

With the Sharks win over Dallas on Tuesday night, it only made their chances at making the post season that much easier.  All the Sharks need to do tonight is win or force overtime to eliminate the Avalanche from the playoffs.  Unfortunately, the Sharks play after the Avalanche, which means all of the pressure lies directly on the shoulders of the Avalanche.

San Jose is in a position where they can afford some wiggle room.  They are not in a “must-win” mentality mode yet.  Colorado is in just the opposite boat.  If the Avalanche want any part of the playoffs they must win tonight.  Luckily, the Blue Jackets are in town tonight to take on the Avs.  Columbus boosts the league’s worst record and the Avalanche could not have dreamed of facing a better opponent in a “must-win” game.

With two games left in the regular season, tonight is chalked full of great games.  The races in both conferences have proven that hockey is steadily reclaiming the national spotlight as one of the four major sports in America.  Even though hockey still does not get the coverage it deserves on major sports channels, many local entities are benefitting from the battles taking place for the final playoff spot in each conference.

Tonight will spell out the fate of the Avalanche and their playoff future.  Sure, we can look back and pick out a handful of games that the Avs should have won so they were not faced with this situation, but the fact is that they are faced a “must-win” situation tonight.  In order for Colorado to keep their hold in the race in the West two things must happen: (1) the Avalanche win, and (2) the Sharks lose IN regulation.  If either of those DO NOT happen, the Avalanche can bid farewell to their playoff hopes.

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Tonight Tells The Avalanche’s Destiny - Mile High Sticking - Mile High Sticking - A Colorado Avalanche Blog