Avs @ Ducks: Only Five More to Go

Those who thought the Avalanche would drop from first to last place in the Central Division *cough Ryan Lambert cough* appear to be on the right track as the home stretch is in sight. There is no light at the end of this dust-filled tunnel, however. Another disappointing season means no playoffs for the fifth time in seven seasons.

Meanwhile Friday’s opponents, the Anaheim Ducks, are back in the playoffs for the eighth time in 10 seasons since the lockout. And boy are they on fire again. With 107 points from 79 games, Anaheim isn’t going to best last season’s 116-point mark, but the President’s Trophy is still in sight with three games left.

The Avs are playing out the string after a 2-4-1 stretch eliminated any faint playoff hopes. Right now, 82 points is good for 9^th-fewest in the league, with the possibility for "catching" Philadelphia or Columbus to move up the draft board.

This is about the time where the team should be shutting down players. Varly, Johnson, anyone that was scratched by their wife’s fingernails should not be playing these last five games. Seems like Roy is going to go with Reto Berra tonight and Varly tomorrow.

Lines

Mitchell-Duchene-Iginla

Landeskog-O'Reilly-Tanguay

McLeod-Cliche-Everberg

Caron-Hamilton-Hishon

Guenin-Barrie

Hejda-Redmond

Stuart-Holden

Berra

Notes

Duchene’s goal against San Jose gave him his fourth 20-goal season in six tries.

After a ridiculous 28-4-8 record in one-goal games in 2013-14, the Avs are 18-11-12 this year. Not terrible I guess given the struggles elsewhere.

Caron has 0 points in 14 games since the trade from Boston.