Colorado Avalanche’s Playoff Dreams Die in Dallas

The Colorado Avalanche’s hopes have seemed to die with their 4-0 loss to the Central Division rival Dallas Stars.

The Colorado Avalanche will not be making the playoffs this season. They haven’t been mathematically eliminated, but you could say they’ve been heart-and-soul eliminated.

The team has only 14 games left. Arizona just overtook them for first in line for a wild card spot that the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars are in possession of. And Arizona has a game in hand.

Altitude TV analyst Mark Rycroft reckons the Avalanche would have to go 10-4 to make the playoffs. “Tall order, that’s a tall order,” he remarked after the game.

What’s more, the Avalanche lost their literal heart and soul late in the third period when captain Gabriel Landeskog took a hip check awkwardly from Stars goalie Ben Bishop:

No news yet on if he was even injured — and we’re all hoping it’s what Rycroft calls “The Sting.” However, like Nathan Rudolph points out, we can’t afford for our captain to miss any games if we even want to pretend we’re making the playoffs.

Defenseman Tyson Barrie also worries about the lack. When asked who would step up if Landeskog were absent, he said he didn’t know how to answer that, “You hope it’s nothing serious — you can’t replace Gabe.”

However, according to Avs insider Adrian Dater, Jared Bednar stated Landeskog’s prognosis “Didn’t look great.”

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A few random thoughts and a question that’s also attributed to Nathan.

• You can’t win in today’s NHL with a team comprised only of small, speedy skill players. The Avs were without their big hitter, Nikita Zadorov, because of an apparent injury to his right arm. The Dallas Stars proceeded to pound them into the ice.
• I still want to catapult Ian Cole into the sun. Granted, he didn’t take any penalties, but that’s just because the referees decided to swallow their whistles. He’s said his sight isn’t 100% because of his orbital bone injury, so I question why he’s been cleared to play. Cuz’ he ain’t playing worth a darn.
• The Colorado Avalanche recalled Andrew Agozzino from the Colorado Eagles. What? Why? What on earth are you expecting him to bring over Sheldon Dries or, gasp, Gabriel Bourque — not to mention A. J. Greer?! We need to be scoping out our young prospects.

And on that note, let’s get to the question. As Nathan Rudolph pointed out, the Colorado Avalanche have only two non-emergency call-up left this season. Who do you give the nod to? (Again, why Agozzino?)

Anyway, the Colorado Avalanche return home for a four-game homestand starting Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres. Interestingly, despite returning late tonight and playing a matinee game on Saturday, the Avs are still holding a practice tomorrow at 12:00. I guess they figure they need to work some things out.