Three-point lead, four games to play.
Playoffs?
The Avalanche got a much-needed win Friday at the Pepsi Center, knocking off Arizona 3-2 in a shootout after blowing a 2-0 third-period lead that enabled the Coyotes to leave town with a valuable point.
“I’ve liked that our guys have really dug in; they’ve been real committed to our system,… coach Jared Bednar said. “The added intangibles that you need to win hockey games – the sacrifice, the commitment, the determination and intensity that you need this time of the year especially – is there. They’re pushing, we’re pushing and trying to earn a playoff spot. The guys are hungry, that’s the biggest thing I like.
“We’re doing different things on different nights to win hockey games. We’re getting contributions from our whole lineup. Especially with the injuries, guys are stepping up and taking on bigger roles and excelling in those roles.
“It’s a team game and we’re playing like that right now. There’s no selfishness in our room, it’s all team first.…
But failing to secure a win in regulation or overtime (ROW) could come back to bite the Avalanche, who have a 34-33 lead over Arizona in this department.
Check out No. 3 of the NHL tiebreaking procedures:
1 -- The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage).2 -- The greater number of games won, excluding games won in the shootout. This figure is reflected in the ROW column (regulation/overtime wins).
3 -- The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs. If two clubs are tied and have not played an equal number of home games against each other, points earned in the first game played in the city that had the extra game shall not be included. If more than two clubs are tied, the higher percentage of available points earned in games among those clubs, and not including any "odd" games, shall be used to determine the standing.
4 -- The greater differential between goals for and against for the entire regular season. NOTE: In standings a victory in a shootout counts as one goal for, while a shootout loss counts as one goal against.
Under No. 3, the Avalanche’s 5-1 win in Arizona on Nov. 23 gets tossed. Only their 6-4 loss in Arizona on Dec. 22 and 3-2 shootout win at the Pepsi Center count. Therefore, the Coyotes earned three points and the Avalanche two under this procedure, even though Colorado won two of the three games, only one of which was played on home ice.
For now, Colorado has a three-point lead over Arizona, a four-point lead over Minnesota and a seven-point lead over Chicago, which has played one fewer game. Of course, the Avalanche can avoid this scenario by winning enough of their final four games to hang onto the playoff berth. It won’t be easy with back-to-back games at St. Louis and home against Edmonton on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, followed by a home game Thursday with Winnipeg and the finale Saturday at San Jose.
The Coyotes outshot the Avalanche 20-7 in the third period and got two goals from Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the tying goal with 50.5 seconds left with goalie Darcy Kuemper on the bench for a sixth attacker.
“It’s tough to be up 2-0 and give one up," Tyson Barrie said. "So that was a bit frustrating to give them a point. But we got two points, and that’s the biggest thing and that, kind of again, puts us in control of our own destiny.… Philipp Grubauer was exceptional again, making 42 saves. He’s backstopped the Avalanche on their 6-0-1 run while posting a 1.55 goals-against average and .957 save percentage. He has a career-high 17 wins and stopped all three Coyotes he faced in the shootout.
Thanks to this shootout goal by Nathan MacKinnon, the Avalanche did grab the extra point after surviving the 3-on-3 overtime period that has seen them lose 12 of 14 times.
Nathan MacKinnon in the shootout: 🔥#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/yyzDxRxXYu
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 30, 2019
Oh, and the captain returned after missing nine games with a shoulder injury. Check out Gabriel Landeskog’s sweet feed to MacKinnon on a power play for a 1-0 lead in the second period:
LANDY TO MACKINNON.
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 30, 2019
WE LOVE TO SEE IT AGAIN!#GoAvsGo #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/mCmlDTIZvb
"It’s nice to have Landy back on the goal line," MacKinnon said. "He makes really good plays, he kind of settles things down. Obviously, great to have him back."
Indeed.