Avs Thoughts And Observations: The Lehkonen Injury Could Blow Up Any Last Division/Conference Title Hopes

Plus, Makar magic and Three Best Bets for Tuesday

Just get into the playoffs and get as healthy as you can.

For me, that’s what it’s come down to with the Colorado Avalanche. Every time you start to get really excited about this team again - like through all of last night’s 8-4 win over Montreal - some ugly surprise is sprung on you, like that scene from “The Twilight Zone Movie” here:

The Artturi Lehkonen broken finger was the ugly little surprise, and with the prognosis listed by Jared Bednar as four weeks until he returns, that would put it right at the start of the playoffs. At least we can be thankful for that much. He will be back for when the games really, really count.

But his loss could be another nail in the coffin of Avs division title/conference championship hopes. The Dallas Stars have gotten hot again, winners of three straight and 7-2-1 in the last 10 games. The Avs are seven points back (87-80) and the Avs do still have two games in hand on them. The Avs also have some cupcake opponents down the stretch (including a back-to-back in San Jose early next month).

But the Avs, too, are four points back of Minnesota for second in the Central. The Avs have two games in hand on them too, but having to win those games in hand is pressure, and it becomes harder to get to the top when you have to pass more than one opponent, thanks to games they might play against each other and three-point games that might result from them.

A playoff spot, though, looks pretty much guaranteed at the moment. I hope I didn’t just do a DaterJinx. But Nashville and Calgary - the 9th and 10th place teams in the West right now - are seven points back of the Avs. Nashville does have one game in hand on the Avs, but Colorado has two games in hand over the Flames.

If the playoffs started today, the Avs would play Minnesota in the first round - with the Wild having home-ice advantage (can you believe that?). Does that scare any of us, though? Not me. As long as the Avs get into the playoffs mostly healthy, I like them to win ANY first-round series against any opponent.

And, it seems like they’re getting healthier too. Erik Johnson is skating hard and looking pretty good. Darren Helm is on the Avs’ current road trip, in a regular jersey. Gabe Landeskog is….still skating anyway.

I will say this: from my sources, I’m led to believe the team DOES think he’ll be ready for Game 1, Round 1. But do they totally know for sure it’ll happen?

Unfortunately, the answer is no.

The Lehkonen injury is tough, because it takes out another top-line forward who was really playing well again. That is probably going to matter in the outcome of a game or two, maybe more, down the stretch. The Avs can’t lose too many games in the remaining 17 they have if they want that No. 1 spot in the division or conference. The Avs are eight points back of Vegas for the conference chase, and they’ve got two games on the Golden Knights as well.

But the regular season is rapidly running out.

Just get into the playoffs reasonably healthy and take your chances from there. That’s what, for me anyway, is the Avs’ best hope from here.

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