Assessing possible 2024 Avs playoff opponents, Part Two
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
While one opponent looks more likely than the rest, who knows what’s in store for the final week. Things seem to have gotten a lot clearer in the past week for the Colorado Avalanche’s playoff picture. But yet, who knows what is still in store for the final week of the regular season for the Avs.
They currently sit third in the Central Division. They are five points behind the Dallas Stars for first in the division but have an outside chance of getting toward the top if things work in their favor. If it happens, who could we see Colorado face for a seven-game series in just over a week?
St. Louis Blues (42-32-5, 89 pts)
Three games remaining: vs. Hurricanes, vs. Kraken, @ Stars
St. Louis is on the outside looking in as the only remaining team in the race for the playoffs outside of those already in the top eight. They are currently three points behind the Knights and would need to win out, while Vegas would need to lose out in front of them.
They’d only face Colorado in the first round if they win the division. While it looks unlikely, even if it does happen, just based on season records this season between the Avs and Blues, it might be a waste of eight days for St. Louis. If they score on every shot though, it might help!
4 goals on the first 4 shots.For just the second time in NHL history. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/YNz81TOiGR— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 11, 2024
Vegas Golden Knights (42-28-8, 92 pts)
Four games remaining: vs. Wild, vs. Avalanche, vs. Blackhawks, vs. Ducks
Vegas currently holds the final playoff spot and is lined up with an insane first-round matchup against the Stars, a repeat of last year’s Western Conference Final. But, if they get out of the wild card, they would face the Edmonton Oilers which isn’t very nice either.
If they didn’t want to face either of those two but instead the Avalanche, Colorado would have to win the Central Division. Regardless, Vegas’ path to a repeat looks extremely tough no matter who they face in the first round - and vice versa for their opponent - even with this convenient timing.
Mark Stone has been cleared to return to practice, the Golden Knights announced.He is expected to skate today in a non-contact jersey. pic.twitter.com/Io0o23XQZ4— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 12, 2024
Nashville Predators (45-29-5, 95 pts)
Three games remaining: @ Blackhawks, vs. Blue Jackets, @ Penguins
Nashville is set in stone for fourth in the Central Division having clinched their playoff spot, but their wild card ranking is still up in the air with the aforementioned Knights. They have perhaps the easiest schedule remaining out of the possible five opponents but might have a shootout on their hands against the Pittsburgh Penguins, battling for it all out East with four other teams for the final spots.
They would only face the Avs if they fall to the second wild card spot and Colorado comes back to win the division. But in the meantime, expect them to face one of the winners of the divisions in the West.
Don't mind us, just reliving the playoff-clinching goal @Xfinity | #Preds pic.twitter.com/LVaWiYeoqM— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 11, 2024
Los Angeles Kings (42-26-11, 95 pts)
Four games remaining: vs. Ducks, vs. Wild, vs. Blackhawks
LA is in a tight battle for third in the Pacific Division with the Golden Knights but is in the middle of a four-game homestand to prepare them for their run. They also play all teams out of the playoff race which can only help their case for third in the division, and a third matchup in a row in the first round with the Edmonton Oilers.
Once again, only the Avs can face the Kings if they fall into the wild card spot and if the Avs make a miraculous comeback to first in the Central. But with their strength of schedule remaining, don’t be surprised if they face the Oilers again, or the off-chance they face the Knights in the first round if Edmonton falls big-time to end the season.
Unfinished business The Los Angeles Kings have clinched a spot in the #StanleyCup Playoffs! pic.twitter.com/UsZnqF1tPG— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 12, 2024
Dallas Stars (50-21-9, 109 pts)
Two games remaining: vs. Kraken, vs. Blues
Not too much to say here - the only way the Avs face the Stars is if the Jets win out, and both Colorado and Dallas lose out to end the season. This is highly unlikely knowing the three team’s forms, and is a much more likely second-round matchup rather than a first-round one.
Edmonton Oilers (47-24-5, 99 pts)
Five games remaining: vs. Coyotes, vs. Canucks, vs. Sharks, @ Coyotes, @ Avalanche
The team with the most remaining games on this list has a tough end to the season. Not by who they are facing, but rather by the amount they play. They play these final five games in seven days, with two back-to-backs and looking to clinch home ice.
Hence, they are highly unlikely to face Colorado. They would need to lose out the rest of the regular season while the Avs would need to win their division. Expect these two to be on opposite ends of the Western Conference bracket and would only face off in the WCF.
The @EdmontonOilers can not only gain ground on the idle Canucks for top spot in the Pacific Division tonight, but can also guarantee they'll open the 2024 #StanleyCup Playoffs at Rogers Place. #NHLStats: https://t.co/B6VO0LcPXr pic.twitter.com/Y03tUqs8Jr— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 12, 2024
Winnipeg Jets (48-24-6, 102 pts)
Four games remaining: @ Stars, @ Avalanche, vs. Kraken, vs. Canucks
And finally, the most likely opponent for the Avalanche is none other than the Winnipeg Jets. Their game against one another on Saturday afternoon should be a preview of what we’ll see starting on or around April 20, and it will have massive implications for their likely series.
The only thing really left to determine is who would get home ice advantage between the two. Both teams have 104 points, but Winnipeg holds the tiebreaker thanks to regulation wins. Whoever gets home ice advantage just might make the difference between these two if and when they face off against one another.
The Winnipeg Jets just beat the Dallas Stars 3-0 in Dallas. Both the Avs and Jets are tied at 104 points. Winnipeg holds the tiebreaker, putting Colorado third in the division. Saturday’s game against the Jets is MASSIVE to keep home-ice advantage #GoAvsGo— x - Mile High Hockey (@MileHighHockey) April 12, 2024
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