Colorado Avalanche: Playoff Stretch in Full Swing
The Colorado Avalanche are currently on the outside looking in, but they’re tied in points with the Wild, and are also tied in ROW, so the playoffs are certainly within their grasp, especially with one more contest against the Wild coming in the final days of the regular season.
Well, it’s time for another playoff push in Colorado Avalanche country; fortunately this year the Colorado Avalanche are actually within contention, as opposed to last season.
The Avs are currently two points behind the Minnesota Wild after Saturday’s loss to the Nashville Predators, which means they are two points from the final wild card spot.
The Avalanche certainly had the harder contest on Saturday, but both Minnesota and Colorado played in tough games.
The Colorado Avalanche were just not able to beat a tough Nashville opponent, while Minny squeaked one out in the shootout against Buffalo.
However, let’s take a deeper look at Colorado’s and Minnesota’s schedules going down the stretch because Saturday’s game was not the only tough game the Avs have down the stretch.
Tough Schedule
Of the 15 games remaining on the schedule, 9 are against current playoff teams, and only the Wild fall under the category of shaky ground concerning playoff establishment.
The Colorado Avalanche will play games against the Capitals, Stars, Blues, and Ducks in the waning moments of their season, along with two more games against the Predators. They also play the Ducks and Blues twice.
And, they’ll also play a tough Flyers team that is currently only 5 points out of a playoff spot.
In comparison, the Wild have 16 games left, and only 7 games are against playoff teams, and that’s only if the Colorado Avalanche are counted in the playoff category, which they currently are not.
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The Wild also play games against the Oilers, Flames, Canadiens, and Jets, who are all struggling with a combined nine wins between them in the last ten games at the time of writing this.
So… the Avalanche certainly face a much tougher schedule, which — if they make it to the playoffs — will prepare them for the rigor of a seven game series.
This playoff stretch could be a blessing in disguise if they are able to weather the storm and find their way into the dance.
The Wild will certainly have an easier path to getting there, so the Colorado Avalanche have to take advantage of their chances against the bottom-feeders when they get them.
Outcome
The outcome will be left to a meteorologist because the forecast for this breakdown is about as variable as the Colorado weather, in other words, good luck.
The Colorado Avalanche will attempt to pull through, and if they do it will speak very highly of their character throughout this season, but times are going to be tough getting there.
It’s probably going to come down to that game against the Wild on Mar. 26 in all honesty.
One thing going in the Avs favor — as far as the schedule is concerned — is that they play 13 games against the Western Conference, and they currently sport a 20-14-3 record against the West.
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It’s safe to say that the playoffs are in their own hands, but then again name a team who doesn’t have that same destiny — besides the ones currently out of it.
It’s going to be a dog fight folks, so be ready for it because things could get low at times, but the Avalanche have the ability to pull through as the top underdog.