So, let's have some fun with this one, okay?

So, anyone going to watch the game tonight? I've heard it's kind of a big one. /understatement

Just so we're all on the same page, Colorado MUST win in regulation or overtime (if the game reaches a shootout, the Avs are eliminated) and San Jose MUST lose to Los Angeles in regulation. Dallas losing is not required, but would be greatly appreciated. IF the Avs win tonight, we'll have a separate thread up to root for the Kings

Go Avalanche, go Kings and go Predators. Here's hoping we hit the lucky trifecta tonight.

Three games left. Technically, the Avalanche can lose tonight and still be mathematically alive. But even if they win, they will need two teams ahead of them to lose almost every remaining game just to have a chance. It won't happen, but it's still been fun to watch.

In other games, the Kings play Edmonton at 9:30 eastern and Dallas plays Vancouver at 10 eastern. Go Avs.

Here's how things will go tonight.

Step 1: Root for the Avalanche to beat the Canucks. Easy peazy.

Step 2: Root for Calgary to beat Los Angeles in regulation (9:30 eastern)

Step 3: Root for Edmonton (not pictured below) to beat Dallas in regulation (9:30 eastern)

Step 4: Root for Anaheim to beat San Jose in regulation (10:00 eastern)

With those 4 easy steps, the Avalanche will vault three spots from 10th to 7th. So easy, a caveman can do it.

'bout time we had one of them there GDT pics. This one courtesy of Dr Redabc.

Elsewhere, two other important games. The Flames and Stars are in "action" in Calgary at 9 eastern. You could make a case here either way - the Flames would be more or less dead in the water with a loss...but if Calgary wins, the Avs would be in a position to pass the Stars in the standings tonight. So, go stupid Flames.

And at 10pm, the Kings play the Vancouver Canucks. Big one for the Avs. IF the Avs win AND the Canucks win, the Avs would jump back into 7th place. So, go Canucks, Flames and Avalanche.

Avs start time is 10:30 eastern, by the way.

Obviously, this is a big game. Also keep an eye on the Bruins and Kings and the Coyotes and Sharks. But if the Avalanche can't win tonight, not much else is going to matter.

This is a HUGE night, with all teams from 7th through 11th in the West in action tonight. This, of course, includes the Avalanche who square off against Phoenix at the grumpy-old-man starting time of 10pm eastern. A win by Colorado keeps the Avalanche in 7th and gives them a little bit of breathing room. A loss will drop them to 8th or 9th and would really damage their playoff chances. Tonight won't decide any race, but it could have a tremendous impact all around.

The nail-biting begins at 8pm with the Flames taking on the Wild in Minnesota. The Wild have lost 8 of their last 10 overall and 4 straight to Calgary, perhaps weakening their claim as the best team in the league. A regulation win tonight would be very beneficial to the Avs.

At 10:30, the Blues and Kings get underway in Los Angeles and the Bruins and Sharks drop the puck in San Jose. The Kings and Sharks each have 2 games in hand on Colorado. They need to lose.

This is a game of some significance.

Also on tap tonight:

Chicago at Columbus, 7pm Eastern. The Avs are probably a long-shot to catch Chicago, but a BJ win in regulation would still be nice.

Phoenix at Dallas, 9pm Eastern. Dallas (not pictured) has 83 points like Colorado and Phoenix but are seeded 3rd for being first in the Pacifist Division. Since Dallas has more games in hand than Phoenix and 3 more ROW than Colorado, we're rooting for them to win in regulation.

San Jose at LA, 10:30 Eastern. This is one those "damned either way" games. If the Avalanche don't get at least a point, both of these teams could pass them in the standings. I don't think there's a right or wrong choice here - just root for the game to end in regulation.

(GDT Pic by Dr Redabc)


The Avalanche play their final game against the Eastern Conference (12-4-1). Let's hope the luck of all those Irish names make it lucky 13.

As for the rooting guide, Nashville is at LA and the Red Wings are at San Jose with both games starting at 10:30 eastern. These are easy games to pick - we're rooting for Nashville and the Dead Things to win in regulation.

The Avs are in New Jersey tonight. What sort of heroics does Gabriel Landeskog have in store tonight? The Avs can move into 7th (at least temporarily) with a win. But it's bigger than that: with 2 points, the only way for the Avs to fall out of the top 8 before their next game Saturday would be for Calgary to win tonight in OT and then again on Friday (I think)

Afterwards, stick around as we watch the other games of significance. At 9pm, Phoenix hosts Calgary. Since we want as many teams behind the Avs as possible, we should be rooting for Phoenix here. Worst-case scenario here would be for Calgary to win in OT. Then, at 10:30 eastern, Nashville visits San Jose. This one's easy: Predators all the way.