After laying a proverbial egg on Easter, the Avalanche look to rebound Monday in Los Angeles in yet another critical game in the final week of the regular season.

The GAME NOTES.

The Avalanche moved into the second wild card playoff position Sunday despite blowing a 3-1 lead in the third period. They got one point with a 4-3 overtime loss and lead St. Louis by one point for that final postseason berth.

Problem is, aside from the fact the Kings have won four in a row against the Avalanche by a 16-3 cumulative score, the Blues have a game in hand, are home against a Washington team that has clinched first in the Metropolitan Division, is locked into its playoff spot and playing in the second game of a back-to-back set.

The Avalanche are 3-7-0 in the second game when playing back-to-back.

Aside from squandering a two-goal lead Sunday, they wasted Tyson Jost's first two-goal game in the NHL and 38 saves by Jonathan Bernier, who will start again Monday.

Semyon Varlamov is out with a knee injury, so it's expected that Bernier also will start Thursday in San Jose and Saturday against the Blues at the Pepsi Center in the regular-season finale. If they make the playoffs ...

"If you start thinking about how you're getting to the playoffs and things like that, you're not going to play your team game," Bernier told reporters. "I think you just have to focus on the process, and it's been working for us all year."

The Ducks moved into third place in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Kings, who have the first wild card spot by one point over the Avalanche and two over the Blues. It's a huge game for the Kings as well.

"The only day in the standings that matters is next Saturday," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said.

The Avalanche need more production from the top line of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.

Landeskog has no goals and three assists in the past seven games, MacKinnon no goals and five assists in the past seven, and Rantanen one goal and one assist in the past five.

Defenseman Mark Barberio and forward Colin Wilson, both out with lower-body injuries, are on the trip. Barberio hasn't played since March 23, and Wilson has missed the past four games.



Follow @RickS7

Join the Discussion: » 22 Comments » Post New Comment

» One-year deal for Johansson

» One more postseason disappointment

» Bednar cleared to coach tonight; MacKinnon Hart finalist

» Cale Makar a Norris Trophy finalist

» Jost: Do or die Game 5 tonight; Kadri suspension upheld