Avs Need To Win Out, Or They're Done

Colorado has 88 points and sits in 10^th place in the Western Conference going into Tuesday night’s action, but they are only two points back of the 8^th and final playoff spot. Under many circumstances, this might look promising, but the Avs have many factors pinned against them as their quest for the playoffs is coming to a close.

To start, Colorado has only two games left, in which they can only get four possible points. If they win out, they Avs will finish the season with 92 points. In order to clinch a spot, Colorado will needs Dallas to beat San Jose tonight, preferably in regulation, and lose their final 2 games against Nashville and St. Louis, to finish the season with 91 points.

IF THE AVS WIN OUT:

Accompanied with the Loss to Dallas, San Jose will also need to lose at least one of their final two games against the Kings. If San Jose loses both, along with a loss to Dallas, they will have finished the season with 90 points, 2 points back of Colorado. If San Jose wins only one game versus the Kings, they will finish the year at 92 points, tied with the Avs. But if the Avs win out, they will have 43 total wins and 34 ROW’s, enough to edge the Sharks in the tie breaker. If the Sharks win 2 of their last three games, Colorado will miss the playoffs.

In the case of the Coyotes, who are 7^th and have 91 points, they can only pick up one possible point in their next three games. They cannot win, or they will clinch a spot, making it harder for Colorado to squeeze in. Phoenix plays Columbus, St. Louis, and Minnesota in their final three games, but if they only pick up one point, the Avs will edge them out, as the Coyotes will stay at 33 ROW`s to Colorado`s 34. If Phoenix loses out, even better.

IF THE AVS LOSE ONE REMAINING GAME:

If Colorado loses one of their two remaining games, San Jose cannot pick up any points. A Colorado loss to either Columbus or Nashville will mean they can only finish the year with 90 points, and with the Sharks at 90 already, one point (91) will single handily knock the Avs out of contention.  

The Dallas Stars have 89 points. If they reach 91 with an Avs loss, that will also knock Colorado out of the playoffs. The problem: San Jose plays Dallas tonight at 6. If Dallas wins, they will have 91 points. If San Jose wins, they will have 92. Overtime points are not a factor here as no matter what, one team will pick up two points, making it that much harder for Colorado.

So the bottom line; Colorado needs to win both games, or they will be eliminated. A loss versus the Blue Jackets on Thursday, or Nashville on Saturday, will officially remove Colorado from the Western Conference playoff race.