Eurolanche

Avs trying to stay alive against Blues

Season series: The Colorado Avalanche have won three of four games against the St. Louis Blues, including 4-3 in overtime Jan. 6 and 2-1 in a shootout Jan. 22. The Blues won 3-1 on Tuesday. Colorado center Mikhail Grigorenko has two goals and one assist, defenseman Tyson Barrie has three assists, and center Nathan MacKinnon has two goals. St. Louis right wing Vladimir Tarasenko has three goals and one assist, right wing David Backes has two goals and one assist, and left wing Alexander Steen has a goal and two assists.

Blues team scope: Goalie Jake Allen will start for St. Louis, which will be without left wing Robby Fabbri (lower body) and defenseman Jay Bouwmeester (upper body), but defenseman Carl Gunnarsson (lower body) made the trip and could play. All three practiced Saturday and coach Ken Hitchcock would not rule them out any longer than Sunday. "None are going to play in Colorado, but it's a good sign that they were able to participate right until the end," Hitchcock said after practice. "It almost looked like tryouts, we had so many guys out on the ice, which was a real good sign." The Blues are four points behind the Dallas Stars for first place in the Central Division. St. Louis has four games remaining; Dallas has three.

Avalanche team scope: Colorado could be eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention if it loses in regulation and the Minnesota Wild defeat the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday. The Avalanche, who have lost four of five, trail the Wild by five points with four games remaining. "We have a tough road ahead of us, but it's still possible to make the playoffs," right wing Jarome Iginla told the Avalanche website. "So that's really where the focus is. Now it's St. Louis. ... It's a hard road, but it is still possible. The only chance we have to do it is to focus on our games." Coach Patrick Roy said defenseman Nikita Zadorov sustained a concussion during a 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals on Friday and likely will not play. Goalie Semyon Varlamov will start. MacKinnon (knee) will miss a seventh straight game.

-- by Louie Korac for NHL.com --