There is still something to play for after all today for the Avalanche.
Because of the Calgary Flames’ 7-1 victory Saturday night against Vancouver, the Avs won’t know their first-round playoff opponent until after today’s regular-season finale with the Minnesota Wild at the Pepsi Center.
If the Avs get at least one point today, they will finish sixth in the Western Conference and play the Wild in a best-of-seven series starting Wednesday or Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. If the Avs lose in regulation, they finish seventh and will play the San Jose Sharks.
Neither team will be a day at the beach. The Sharks have earned at least one point in 20 of their last 21 games and Minnesota has won five of seven meetings with the Avalanche.
“One team is the hottest team in the league and the other team has been pretty good against us, although I think we’ve matched up better against them the last two games in their building,” Avs coach Joel Quenneville said.
The Wild was the only team in the Northwest Division that won the season series with Colorado, and won its first division title in team history with a win over Calgary on Thursday.
At Saturday’s practice, Quenneville hinted he probably would rest a couple of veterans in today’s game.
The schedule for the playoff series will be determined by the NHL today. There is a strong possibility Game 3 and Game 4 at the Pepsi Center will be played on back-to-back nights, Monday and Tuesday next week. That’s because the Nuggets already have home games scheduled next Sunday and Wednesday.
Who sits?
With eight healthy defensemen on the Avalanche roster, two likely will have to sit out Game 1 of the playoffs, barring any injuries today.
One figures to be Kyle Cumiskey. The other is less certain, although Jordan Leopold could be the one. Leopold was a healthy scratch at Vancouver on Tuesday, and skated alongside Cumiskey at Saturday’s practice — a sign they will be the scratches.
Quenneville said he still has an open mind, however.
“Certainly we’ve got the most depth we’ve had at any point. We welcome tough decisions like this,” Quenneville said. “The defense has played well down the stretch and Leo was playing well before he got hurt. Now that he’s back, we’ll have to make that decision on a game-by-game basis.”
MINNESOTA AT COLORADO
1 p.m. today, ALT, KKFN 104.3 FM
Spotlight on Jeff Finger: It has been a solid season for the Avs defender, who could be an unrestricted free agent in July. What he lacks in speed he makes up for with hard hitting and good positional play. He leads Avs defenders in goals.
Notebook
Avalanche: Jose Theodore is expected to get the start today in net. Theodore has started 25 of the last 27 games. . . . In 51 games against the Wild, including the playoffs, the Avs have averaged 2.88 goals per game. . . . Defenseman Adam Foote, who took 20 stitches to close a cut to his ear Tuesday, has some lingering pain but is ready to rejoin the lineup.
Wild: Defenseman Kurtis Foster (broken leg) and center Steve Kelly (ankle) are out. . . . Coach Jacques Lemaire won his 500th NHL game Thursday in the Wild’s division-clinching victory over Calgary. That tied him with Toe Blake for 11th on the all-time NHL list. . . . The Wild’s checking line of Stephane Veilleux, Branko Radivojevic and Mikko Koivu has been effective of late, drawing much praise from Lemaire.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
