Avalanche At Blues Preview: Blues Can Clinch Tonight, Hopefully. Maybe.

Hey, remember Sunday night? No? Blues lost to the Avalanche in a game that most folks would prefer to ignore?

Yeah, I'm drawing a blank too.

No one was happy with the effort, with goalie Brian Elliott saying this after the game:

"We just didn't play as good as a team," Elliott said. "That's not how we want to play. Obviously, it's frustrating not getting the win and clinching a playoff spot like we had a chance to do tonight. That's what's frustrating.

"You can't dwell on this too much, you have to take (the loss) for what it is and learn from it. This is not the time of year to have a team effort like that. From the goalie out, we have to be better."

Well, it's Colorado, and they have the worst road record in the league: an impressive 3-15-4. Despite the fact that the Avs have won 11 of the last 14 games, the Blues stand a really good chance of winning tonight. Chances are one thing, doing is another. They might have 37.3 shots a game against the Avalanche, but that hasn't translated into beaucoup goals. Quite the opposite, actually. David Backes had a goal and an assist Sunday, and plays well against the Avs, but that doesn't go for the team as a whole.

The Blues have won three straight at home against the Avalanche. They need to win again tonight to clinch that playoff spot. Keep your fingers crossed that happens, or else we'll have to re-use some variant on "win and clinch" in the headline again on Thursday.