We can probably count on two things when the Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets play Wednesday night: a one-goal game that requires more than regulation to complete.
Three of the previous four games between the teams were decided in overtime or a shootout. The Avalanche went 3-0-1 in the first four, winning 3-2 in overtime, 4-3 in a shootout and 3-2 in regulation. The Jets' win was a 2-1 decision in overtime.
It'll be interesting to see how goalie Reto Berra plays in his first game for the Avalanche since his March 5 acquisition from Calgary in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2014 NHL draft. He signed a three-year, $4.35 million contract extension last week.
His acquisition and signing obviously has signaled the end of Jean-Sebastien Giguere's tenure in Colorado after this season. Giguere's contract expires July 1 and he's already indicated that he's considering retirement. He'll turn 37 in May and has had a fine career that includes a Stanley Cup, a Conn Smythe Trophy and 261 NHL wins. He's gone 30-21-7 in three seasons in Colorado.
It was a nice gesture by coach Patrick Roy to start Giguere in his hometown of Montreal on Tuesday, but he didn't play particularly well, allowing five goals on 35 shots in the 6-3 loss.
The Avalanche will have 12 more games after Wednesday before the playoffs, and you have to wonder how many -- if any -- of them Giguere will get to play. Semyon Varlamov will get the lion's share, of course, but Berra has been doing plenty of work with goalie coach Francois Allaire.
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Center John Mitchell is listed as day to day, which sounds encouraging after he hurt his back crashing into the boards in the second period Tuesday and was sent to the hospital for precautionary X-rays. Mitchell was released and flew overnight to Winnipeg with his teammates. He isn't playing Wednesday.
Center Paul Stastny won't play, either. I assume his back acted up after playing Tuesday. Paul Carey is in lineup. Roy will use 11 forwards and seven defensemen.
The Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks each have 93 points, but Colorado is holding second place in the Central Division on the basis of more wins. The Blackhawks are home Wednesday against first-place St. Louis. The Blues have 101 points and have played one fewer game than Colorado and Chicago.
Matt Duchene has a team-leading 66 points, one shy of the career high he set in 2010-11. His 44 assists are a personal best ... Jamie McGinn has three goals and three assists in a four-game scoring streak, matching his career best. His 18 goals are two shy of his career high set in 2011-12.
While Berra starts for the Avalanche, Al Montoya will be in net for the Jets. Montoya would probably start anyway because he's played so well against the Avalanche, but Ondrej Pavalec is out with a lower-body injury.
Dustin Byfuglien also has a lower-body injury and won't play for the Jets, who are six points out of the final Western Conference playoff position with 12 games to play. The Jets have gone 1-4-3 in their past eight games.