Avalanche Rooting Guide, April 3rd

Tonight's rooting guide is brought to you by the NHL schedule maker. It is the night where Dallas, San Jose and Phoenix - the only 3 teams the Avs can catch - all are relieved of their "games in hand" on the Avalanche. Unfortunately, two of those teams are playing each other, tightening the noose a bit more. In lighter news, because either Dallas or San Jose will have 91 points after tonight, the Flames (max 90) can't make the postseason. I wouldn't laugh too hard about that, if I were you.

With the Kings win last night, they moved to 93 points and cannot be caught by the Avalanche.

San Jose and Dallas kick things off tonight at 8:30. 3 more points by either team this year puts them out of reach (Dallas has already clinched the ROW tiebreaker against Colorado). A regulation game is much-needed here (you pick your poison with regards to the winner).

At 10pm, Phoenix hosts Columbus. A win of any sort by the Coyotes would put them out of reach. Uh, go Blue Jackets.

Sad bottom line: two - and possible all three - of the teams the Avs are chasing will have a minimum of 91 points after tonight. The Avalanche will not be eliminated tonight...but there could be some more nails tapped into the coffin.

7	Phoenix	PAC	79	39	27	13	91	33	206	202	+4	21-13-6	18-14-7	6-10	5-2-3	Won 2
8	San Jose	PAC	79	40	29	10	90	32	214	201	+13	25-12-3	15-17-7	8-5	6-4-0	Won 1

9	Dallas	PAC	79	42	32	5	89	35	207	212	-5	22-14-3	20-18-2	7-4	4-6-0	Lost 2
10	Colorado	NW	80	41	33	6	88	32	205	209	-4	22-15-2	19-18-4	9-2	5-3-2	Won 1
11	Calgary	NW	80	35	29	16	86	32	194	222	-28	21-12-6	14-17-10	3-9	2-4-4	OT 1