Eurolanche

Hawks try to secure 3rd in Centr. at Avs

Season series: The Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche will decide the five-game series at Pepsi Center. Chicago won the first two games, and Colorado won the past two. Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov, who didn't play in the first two games, has held the Blackhawks to one combined goal.

Blackhawks (48-27-6) team scope: Chicago has lost three straight games, scoring one goal in each. The Blackhawks will start the Western Conference First Round on the road against the St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators or Anaheim Ducks. Chicago has to drop out of third place in the Central Division to play the Ducks or Blues. The Blackhawks are two points ahead of the Minnesota Wild but have fewer non-shootout wins and would be a wild card if there is a tie in points. The Wild finish the season at the Blues.

Avalanche team scope (38-31-12): Colorado has a chance to give the Central Division another claim as the toughest in the NHL. The Avalanche will move to 90 points with a win, which would mean the seven teams in the division each have at least that many; the Central is the only division with six teams that have at least 90 points. Colorado, which will not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, has won three of the past four games, with the wins against playoff teams. Defenseman Brad Stuart, who was cut on the leg Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets, won't play. Varlamov is scheduled to start.

-- by Brian Hedger for NHL.com --

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