The Colorado Avalanche will play their sixth and final game this season against the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Canucks. The battle has been one sided this season, with Vancouver accumulating a 4-0-1 record against Colorado this season and gaining nine of a possible 10 points in this matchup.
Not only is Vancouver the outright favorite to win the Western Conference regular season title, but they are the easy frontrunners for the President's Cup awarded to the best regular season. Vancouver recently passed the 100-point threshold this past week -- the fastest any Canucks team has ever reached the landmark -- and only a total collapse the last month of the season will prevent them from wrapping up their third straight Northwest Division title.
The current Colorado Avalanche have proven to be of little resistance of late, as the St. Louis Blues are the only team they have defeated since January 24. That slide has placed them in great position for a top three selection in this year's draft, and only one point ahead of the Ottawa Senators for the second worst record in the NHL. But they get some reinforcements back tonight, as forward Paul Stastny and defenseman John-Michael Liles are expected to return from injury.
If this season is any precedent, expect Colorado to fight hard against their division rivals and fall a single goal short. At this point in the season, that would be a welcome reprieve from the constant blowouts.
Brian Elliott gets the start for Colorado in net. Vancouver backup Cory Schneider gets a surprise start for Vancouver, giving the Avalanche a slightly better chance at victory.
Puck drops at Rogers Arena at 8:00 p.m. MDT.