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Avalanche face uphill battle to make playoffs

Feb 27, 2007 - 4:23 PM Columbus (24-32-7) at Colorado (29-29-5) 9:00 pm EST

DENVER (Ticker) - The Colorado Avalanche had better begin winning - and soon - if they want to make the playoffs.

The Avalanche try to snap a three-game losing streak against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

Colorado is 10th in the Western Conference, 10 points out of the last playoff spot. The Avalanche have not missed the postseason since 1994, when they were the Quebec Nordiques.

The Avalanche and Blue Jackets have met three times this season, with the road team winning each time. Colorado recorded a pair of wins at Columbus in November before being blanked, 3-0, at home on December 5.

The Avalanche's latest loss was Sunday's 5-3 setback to the Anaheim Ducks. Captain Joe Sakic scored to extend his points streak to 12. The center has six goals and 14 assists in that span.

Rookie Paul Stastny assisted on Milan Hejduk's goal to also extend his points streak to 12 games. He has seven goals and 11 assists in his streak.

Columbus is 1-2-2 in its last five games after Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators. Fredrik Modin had a goal and an assist while Ty Conklin made 22 saves.

Modin, who has 15 goals and 14 assists in 60 games, signed a three-year contract extension Monday. Conklin is 0-2-1 with 13 goals against in his last three starts.