Yes, the Avalanche are still in it, but they will definitely need help from Chicago if they don’t win Thursday in San Jose.

They remain in the second wild card playoff position in the Western Conference with two games to go – Thursday against the Sharks and Saturday in the regular-season finale against St. Louis at the Pepsi Center.

The Avalanche continue to make it difficult for themselves down the stretch with a 1-3-1 record in the past five games following their 3-1 loss Monday in Los Angeles. They failed to take advantage of the ninth-place Blues’ 4-2 home loss to Washington.

"It would have made our job over the last two games easier,” coach Jared Bednar told reporters. “Again, it's about our business. I'm not worried about St. Louis. I would like the help, we'll take it every chance we can get it, but we got to find a way to carve some points out. One out of four points so far on the road trip is not a good start."

If the Avalanche beat the Sharks and follow with a regulation win against the Blues, it won’t matter if St. Louis beats the Blackhawks on Wednesday and again on Friday.

The Avalanche would finish with 97 points in that case, the Blues with 96.

They won both previous games against San Jose, 5-3 on Jan. 18 and 3-1 on Feb. 6. The games were played in Denver and Jonathan Bernier was in goal both times.

A big if, however, the way the Avalanche have been playing.

Also, while the Sharks have clinched a playoff berth, they are looking to secure second place in the Pacific Division for home ice in the first round; they lead the Kings by two points and have a game in hand. Anaheim is three points behind the Sharks with three games left.

It sure would help if – there’s another if – the top line of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen rediscovered their offense.

They were blanked again against the Kings. Landeskog and MacKinnon have gone eight games without a goal, while Rantanen has one in the past six games.

The Avalanche have four goals in the past two games, two each from rookies Tyson Jost and Alexander Kerfoot.



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