Two-point lead, three games to play.
There is very little margin for error for the Avalanche in their attempt to lock down a playoff position for the second season in a row.
They face Edmonton at the Pepsi Center on Tuesday to open a two-game homestand looking to hold -- and possibly gain ground on -- the second wild card playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Thanks to a two-goal rally in the third period Monday, the Avalanche managed to earn a valuable point in a 3-2 shootout loss in St. Louis, giving them a two-point lead (86-84) over Arizona, which is home to Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Gabriel Landeskog deflected in Patrik Nemeth's shot 6:30 into the period and Alexander Kerfoot tipped in Landeskog’s shot with 46.4 seconds remaining to make it 2-2 with goalie Philipp Grubauer off the ice for a sixth skater. Old friend Ryan O'Reilly scored the lone goal in the shootout.
If the Avalanche can grab five points in their remaining three games (Oilers, Winnipeg on Thursday, at San Jose on Saturday), they’ll secure the playoff berth even if the Coyotes win all three of their games (Kings, at Vegas on Thursday, home to Winnipeg on Saturday).
Minnesota and Chicago remain in the hunt, but both would be eliminated from contention if the Avalanche defeat the Oilers, who were eliminated Monday.
The Avalanche have gone 6-0-2 in their past eight games, all with Grubauer in goal. He has a 1.59 goals-against average and .954 save percentage in this stretch.
The Oilers have lost three games in a row (0-2-1) and six of their past eight (2-4-2), but they are extremely dangerous with forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who have combined for 88 goals and 217 points.
The projected lineup:
Alexander Kerfoot -- Nathan MacKinnon -- J.T. Compher Gabriel Landeskog -- Carl Soderberg - Colin Wilson Mat Nieto -- Tyson Jost -- Matt Calvert Sven Andrighetto – Derick Brassard -- Gabriel Bourque
Samuel Girard -- Erik Johnson Ian Cole -- Tyson Barrie Nikita Zadorov -- Patrik Nemeth
Philipp Grubauer Semyon Varlamov