Tiebreaker means Avs need regulation win vs. Blues to make playoffs
If the Colorado Avalanche are to make the postseason, they'll have to get their work done in 60 minutes on Saturday.
The Avalanche close out their regular-season schedule against the St. Louis Blues, the lone team battling them for the West's final wild-card position.
St. Louis currently holds the seed, notching 41 regulation or overtime wins (ROW) and 94 points through 81 games. But the Avs are right behind, coming in at 40 ROW and 93 points.
A Colorado win Saturday would move the club to 95 points, but that win must come in regulation, as awarding the Blues an overtime point would also move St. Louis to 95 points. The Blues would then clinch the final playoff spot on account of either having more ROW than Colorado (the first tiebreaker) or more points in the season series.
With such high stakes, the Avalanche could pull out all the stops to earn a crucial regulation victory:
OK, so now it's official, the Colorado Avalanche must win in regulation against the St. Louis Blues tomorrow to clinch a playoff berth, so a tie game late in the third period, you bet the Avs have to pull the goalie.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) April 7, 2018
Entering Saturday's contest, Sports Club Stats favors the Blues to make the playoffs, with the team holding a 54.9 percent chance.
The puck drops at 7 p.m. local time in Denver.