Considering circumstances, they'll take the point

Weary after playing in overtime Friday night and having to travel overnight to play in St. Louis on Saturday, the Avalanche shouldn't have been too upset about dropping a 3-2 overtime decision to the Blues.

Colorado did manage to pick up a point -- steal one, really -- thanks to some timely saves by goalie Seymon Varlamov in a game in which the Avalanche was outshot 18-4 in a scoreless third period and 44-19 overall.

Playing back-to-back nights is never easy, especially when the games take place in different time zones and both contests go to overtime. It was the third overtime or shootout in a four-game stretch for the Avalanche, which has gone 2-0-2 after losing four games in a row in regulation.

"It's a huge point for us, considering the circumstances," Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said. "Late night (Friday), traveling, overtime game tonight. We need points; that's what it's all about at this time of year. It was a good point for the guys."

The Avalanche has 60 points, three behind Phoenix, which holds the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference. But even free-falling Chicago (sixth with 65 points) and seventh-place Los Angeles (63 points) are within striking distance, with Calgary, Dallas and Minnesota also in the mix.

The Avalanche flew back to Denver after the St. Louis game and was scheduled to take Sunday off and then practice for two days before beginning a three-game road trip that begins Wednesday in Vancouver.

"We're in a situation where we need as many points as we can get," Sacco said. "I like where we're at right now (in terms of how the team is playing) and we just have to keep it going."

Copyright (C) 2012 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.