The Avalanche can move into a playoff position Wednesday if they can defeat Winnipeg at the Pepsi Center.
The
GAME NOTES.
They trail idle Minnesota by one point for the second wild card in the Western Conference and have played one fewer game. Chicago also is one point behind the Wild and will play at Detroit.
“Destiny’s in our hands,” coach
Jared Bednar said after the morning skate. “We’ve got a lot of season yet to go. This is going to go right down to the bitter end. This is a third of the season left and whoever has the best third of the season is going to be the team that gets in, or teams that get in.”
The Avalanche have won two of the past three games and gained a point in five of the past seven (2-2-3) following a four-game losing streak.
They haven’t won two games in a row since a six-game winning streak from Nov. 18-28.
“We have to take advantage of the opportunities,”
Mikko Rantanen said. “When the other teams lose we have to find a way to win. We have to have a great push now and win as many games as we can.”
Rantanen is in a slump with three points (one goal, two assists) in his past 11 games. He had 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his previous seven games.
“I remember
(Teemu) Selanne saying sometimes when he had a tough stretch as long as you’re creating chances eventually it’s going to go in,” said Rantanen, who needs two points for 200 in his NHL career. “Last game I had a couple good chances to score. It’s just a matter of time. I have to stay with it, stay positive. I have to find a way.”
The power play also has been struggling. The Avalanche are in an 0-for-26 skid in the past nine games.
Semyon Varlamov will make his eighth start in a row following a 40-save effort Monday in the Avalanche’s 3-0 win against Vegas. They’ll also use the same lineup up front and on defense.
Alexander Kerfoot – Nathan MacKinnon -- Sven Andrighetto
Matt Nieto – Carl Soderberg – Mikko Rantanen
Gabriel Landeskog – Tyson Jost -- Matt Calvert
A.J. Greer -- Andrew Agozzino – J.T. Compher
Samuel Girard -- Erik Johnson
Patrik Nemeth -- Tyson Barrie
Ryan Graves – Nikita Zadorov
Semyon Varlamov
Philipp Grubauer
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • 
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