Dutchy will be in the lineup tonight. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Early in February, it seemed as though the Avs were going to have yet another season with injuries galore. Lately though, the news has been pretty positive regarding players healing up. Captain Gabe Landeskog is back in the lineup after missing 11 games with a concussion. Now that he’s played three games, I’m feeling more confident that he’s back for good, and not about to suffer a relapse. Matt Duchene will return to the lineup tonight after missing one game with a groin injury. Both Erik Johnson and Ryan Wilson skated this morning, (Johnson for the second time, Wilson for the first). Steve Downie is obviously still out with his season-ending ACL tear, but it seems as though everyone else is feeling a bit better (knock on wood). There’s still no timetable for Wilson or Johnson’s returns, but Coach Sacco said this morning that there is a possibility that each of them might join the team on the upcoming roadtrip.

By my calculations, it is going to take 56 points to make the Western Conference playoffs. The Avs are sitting in 14th place with 17 points. While they are only four points behind 8th place San Jose, it’s clear that they need to start winning at a consistent pace if they want to make the postseason. In these final 30 games, they’ll need a record of 19-10-1 to reach my estimated point value. A healthier team certainly makes that a more likely possibility. Landeskog and Duchene are going to need to put up points as two of the best forwards (Duchene needs to continue his fast pace, and Landeskog needs to start earning some of his own) if the team wants to give itself a chance to win. Paul Stastny and David Jones have been much maligned recently, and while I think they’ve been working hard, it’s true that they need to start putting the puck in the net for the team. If Johnson and/or Wilson can rejoin the team by the start of April, they would certainly provide a boost in the team’s capabilities, as the top two defensemen.

Of course, Ryan O’Reilly and his contract situation still provide a headache for everyone. I think most everyone would welcome him back, but at the same time, it seems like a pipe dream that we’ll ever see him in an Avs jersey again. I understand that management realizes that they need to “win” any trade that involves O’Reilly, and for that reason, they’re going to wait for the best trade. At the same time, this team needs help now. This team has said that they intend to get into the playoffs-but right now they’re sitting in 14th place. I’d personally like something to happen in the O’Reilly situation before the trade deadline at the beginning of April.

Mandatory Credit: Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Avalanche headed to California with a record finally back at .500, ready to earn at least four points, and put themselves back in the hunt for a playoff spot. Now, coming home, they earned only two points, they failed to win a single game, and are still sitting 14th in the Western Conference.

So, what went wrong, when it seemed as though things might be turning around?

In Los Angeles, the team just played poorly. Semyon Varlamov had his worst game of the season (although I know he’s let in more goals in other games, this was truly his worst-none of the four goals allowed were acceptable). The team in front of him played uninspired, and as a group they gave up their first shorthanded goal against this season. I’m not sure why Coach Joe Sacco didn’t either pull Varlamov (after either the second or third goal) or why he didn’t try and call a timeout to shift the momentum, but then again, Sacco makes a number of questionable calls I don’t agree with.

Anaheim seemed like a rebound game at first, as the Avs took a quick two goal lead. However, the referees failed to call a slashing penalty on the Ducks’ Cory Perry, which allowed him to score his first goal. Then, a slashing call was made on Gabriel Landeskog, and a puck trickled through J.S. Giguere, who sat unaware until Ryan Getzlaf slid it over the line. John Mitchell would respond with a nice snap shot past Jonas Hiller. In the third, the team sat back too much (I don’t understand why they always sit back with a one goal lead, but they do), and Anaheim was able to tie things up. In overtime, a rather soft call on Ryan O’Byrne led to the third straight Ducks PP goal. Obviously the officiating had a major impact on the game, but at the same time, you need to manufacture your own luck in this league, and the Avs failed to do so.

Still, heading into San Jose, the Avs had an opportunity to go .500 on this roadtrip. The Sharks earned a quick goal, but the Avs responded well and eventually tied things up. The curse of former Avs scoring on the Avs continued with TJ Galiardi’s first goal of the season early in the second period. Once more, the Avs fought, and with three minutes remaining in the game, tied things up. Semyon Varlamov was awesome until it came time for the shoot out. He allowed two goals, matching the same number of goals he allowed in eight shoot outs last year, and Antti Niemi allowed only one on four shots.

Clearly, this was a disappointing swing for the Avs. However, there is no time for them to hold their heads down. They need an estimated 20 wins in the next 30 games to make the playoffs, the team’s supposed goal for this season. It’s time to step up boys.