Pre-Game Talk: The Final Week (@VGK, vs LA x2)

[Avsboy]

Why? Those remaining 2 games versus LA could leapfrog the Avs over Car, Fla and Pitt, all teams we could potentially meet in the SCF.

Im more concerned with seeding and beating VGK as a point over home ice advantage in the SCF

 

[McMetal]

I still think our #1 priority should be staying ahead of Minnesota. They have two games left against a St. Louis team that is going to be resting a lot of guys. Forget Vegas, I think it's very likely they win out and potentially knock us down to third in the division if we're not careful.

 

[Metallo]

AJ was saying yesterday that journalists are now told by the league to submit their Norris ballot ASAP.

There's a good chance that the vast majority of the votes will be in already before the end of the season, especially now with Fox', Letang's and Hedman's seasons being over.

So it looks like no matter what Makar does in the last week, it will have little to no impact on the Norris vote.

What’s the hurry?

 

[SaltySkywalker]

What’s the hurry?

Yeah, that seems entirely premature. Why would they ask for ballots early that is judging a season that hasn’t even concluded yet?

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

I think we beat Vegas. I think Cale wants the Norris more than he lets on. He’s simply a much better hockey player than anyone on the teams he faces this week. I think he takes over and tries to earn the Avs the #1 seed while trying to earn himself a Norris at the same time.

How likely does he actually take it?

 

[Metallo]

Yeah, that seems entirely premature. Why would they ask for ballots early that is judging a season that hasn’t even concluded yet?

Also when the f***ing NHL gala is after the playoffs nevermind the regular season!

 

[Bill Peckerskull]

Ranta recalled to the taxi squad

Not a good sign. Expect plenty of AHL guys playing tomorrow.

 

[Azrael89]

Not a good sign. Expect plenty of AHL guys playing tomorrow.

Apparently home ice isn’t a priority at all. Or the roster is so injury riddled it doesn’t matter where the Avs place because they can’t ice a competitive roster anyway.

 

[RockLobster]

Should the Avs finish 3rd, I’ll personally be looking back to those games Miska lost us and wonder just what could have happened if Joe had gotten a proper backup when they knew really early on he wouldn’t be an option this year.

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

I guess it would be weird to abandon their strategy late in the season.

Bednar said in training camp that they would rest guys when they had minor injuries and that being healthy for the playoffs was the priority. That’s exactly what they’ve done all year.

They’re prioritizing health over getting 1st place in the division. We’ll see if it pays off.

 

[Zandar]

Likely icing more AHLers against Vegas to avoid injury (to stars) caused from the antics of Vegas’ 4th line.

 

[the_fan]

Just play bunch of AHLers and goon it up against Vegas. Take runs at Kolesar and Reaves etc...

 

[Avs_19]

I'm guessing we might see some young guys play against LA if the Avs lose to Vegas. That could be why they made some more call ups. I can't see them resting with the top seed on the line.

 

[nammerus]

The max point total for the Wild is 79. We need 3 points in the next 3 games to get home ice in the 1st round

Man..that SJS loss looks even worse now.

 

[Alex Jones]

I don't really care who gets home ice between the wild /Avs. I just want to get healthy. If that means icing an AHL team, okay.

 

[Balthazar]

I don't really care who gets home ice between the wild /Avs. I just want to get healthy. If that means icing an AHL team, okay.

If we lose against Vegas I say rest every top player for the last 2 games. Makar, Rants, Landy, Toews, Gru...

That's far more important than home ice.

 

[forsbergavs32]

Even if we beat Vegas, there’s no way they lose to the Sharks so we would have to win all 3 of the last games to get the outright win in the division (don’t know who has the tiebreakers between us and Vegas).

Either way, I’d rather just rest guys and end up in 3rd than risk our star players against Vegas this close to playoffs.

 

[Forceberg]

If we lose against Vegas I say rest every top player for the last 2 games. Makar, Rants, Landy, Toews, Gru...

That's far more important than home ice.

Ray Bourque said home ice is very important.
But maybe not this year.

 

[Grigowski]

Win or loss tonight, who cares.

I don´t want anyone on our team to get hurt. I want a healthy squad for the playoffs. That´s all i wish for at this point.

 

[SD Avs Fan]

I am a little surprised by the reaction. The Avs should be going all out to finish as high as possible. The best way to go into the playoffs is by playing meaningful games not by worrying about resting guys. That can backfire for the playoffs as there will be alot of rusty guys that haven't played for awhile. We all know how the Avs do after long layoffs. The team itself might not have had a layoff but many of the player will have. If the Avs worry about merely staying healthy they won't be in playoff mode and it won't matter anyway. I do not have a good feeling about this post season.

 

[SD Avs Fan]

Look at the home records (most of it without any fans at all) and tell me it doesn't matter.

Vegas 21-4-2
Colorado 20-4-2
Minnesota 21-5-2

All three teams in the top 5 of all NHL teams at home. Nah but lets just rest everyone and hand over home ice. I don't get it. If the players can't stay healthy for the last 3 games of the regular season what is it gonna be like when the ramped up intensity of the playoffs happen.

As far as I am concerned the playoffs start in Vegas tonight.

 

[Richard88]

Look at the home records (most of it without any fans at all) and tell me it doesn't matter.

Vegas 21-4-2
Colorado 20-4-2
Minnesota 21-5-2

All three teams in the top 5 of all NHL teams at home. Nah but lets just rest everyone and hand over home ice. I don't get it. If the players can't stay healthy for the last 3 games of the regular season what is it gonna be like when the ramped up intensity of the playoffs happen.

As far as I am concerned the playoffs start in Vegas tonight.

Home ice would obviously be preferable, but Colorado are 2-1-1 in away games in Minnesota, including an OTL with Miska in net.

5-1 W
3-4 OTL
5-4 W
3-8 L

 

[dahrougem2]

Home ice would obviously be preferable, but Colorado are 2-1-1 in away games in Minnesota, including an OTL with Miska in net.

5-1 W
3-4 OTL
5-4 W
3-8 L

I still don't want to chance it in the event the series goes 7.

 

[Soedy]

I still don't want to chance it in the event the series goes 7.

We'll lose game 7 anyway no matter if on the road or on home ice.

 

[Forceberg]

We'll lose game 7 anyway no matter if on the road or on home ice.

NOT this Season.