The Colorado Avalanche are one of five teams fighting for two spots in the Western Conference playoffs. Through two periods tonight, the Avs trail the Vancouver Canucks 1-0. Vancouver currently sits as the No. 2 seed and have already clinched its division.

There was no scoring in the second period. Vancouver's Chris Higgins' shorthanded score in the first period, his 16th of the year, remains the lone tally in the game.

If the Avalanche can't come back and win, they'll have only Canucks goalie Cory Schneider to blame. Colorado has out-shot Vancouver 27-13 through two periods, but Schneider has been on top of his game, thwarting the Avalanche attack at each and every turn.

The Canucks have 26 faceoff wins to just 16 for Colorado. Colorado has 19 hits to Vancouver's 16 hits.

For more coverage, visit our Avalanche blog Mile High Hockey and our Canucks blog Nucks Misconduct. For NHL news, analysis and opinion go the SB Nation NHL hub page.