• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Avalanche try to improve playoff position

Mar 1, 2008 - 2:24 PM Los Angeles (26-35-4) at Colorado (33-26-6) 8:00 pm EST

DENVER (Ticker) - The Colorado Avalanche are rounding into shape at the right time, but they still have a tough fight on their hands.

The Avalanche attempt to get a better grip on the Western Conference playoff situation when they host the lowly Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

Colorado has their top three weapons back on the ice in captain Joe Sakic, Ryan Smyth and Paul Stastny - all back from lengthy injury absences. More good news, MVP Peter Forsberg will join the potent offensive mix soon.

Forsberg, who won two Stanley Cups with the club and was signed out of semi-retirement on Monday, is with the team but is doubtful to play on Saturday while he continues to work his way into playing shape.

The Avalanche have won their past two games, needing overtime in Tuesday's win at Calgary and posting a shootout victory at Vancouver on Wednesday. Sakic scored the game-tying goal with 15 seconds left on Wednesday, and then tallied in the shootout.

Colorado has 72 points and has moved into a virtual tie with the Nashville Predators (32-25-8) for eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Kings' only hope having a say in the playoff race is to play spoiler down the stretch. For the second straight season, Los Angeles is mired in last place in the West.

The Kings are just 1-3-1 over their past five games, yielding a combined 19 goals in the four losses.

The Avalanche have won two of the three meetings between the teams this season, as Smyth and Stastny have combined for five goals.