Does Colorado Have a Chance to Make Playoffs?

With such a shortened season, teams like the Colorado Avalanche are seeing the effect that every loss has on the possibility of making the playoffs. 

The Avalanche already have 14 games under there belt, and are currently sitting with a record of 7-8-2.  Colorado has only accumulated a total of 16 points this season, and are currently seated at 14th in the Western Conference, only ahead of Columbus.  

It is still to early to tell if the Avalanche are out of the playoff race with only 4 points separating them from the team seated in 8th place in the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars.  

Every match up that the Colorado Avalanche have in the 2013 hockey season is a Western Conference match up.  The top eight teams from both the Western and Eastern Conferences compete in the playoffs. Every match up, therefore, holds a substantial weight in determining what teams within each conference make it to the playoffs. 

Plagued by many early injuries and lack of team identity, the Colorado Avalanche have had a very rough start. The results produced by this team, for the first third of the season, certainly have created a debate whether or not this team can secure a playoff spot this year.  

The Avalanche have had rough road trips, and mainly achieving their wins at home.  Only two of the seven total wins from this team have been achieved on the road, this 28% win percentage on the road needs to improve if Colorado wants to see the playoffs this year.

With some consistent wins, both at home and on the road, the Avalanche could quickly change their standing within the Western Conference and possibly gain that much needed playoff spot.