Avs coach Jared Bednar believes his team is going to the playoffs

It was a loose, confident-sounding group of Avalanche players this morning in their Pepsi Center dressing room. Not to mention, the Avs’ coach. Whether that will prove to have been all just bravado, we’ll find out later this evening.

Arguably the Avs’ biggest regular-season game in team history happens starting at 7:08 p.m., with the Avs and Blues playing a showdown game for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Here’s the deal: For the Avs to advance to what would be a first-round matchup with the Nashville Predators, they have to beat the Blues in regulation tonight. Because the Blues hold the tie-breakers should the game go to overtime or a shootout, the Avs must be a goal ahead before 60 minutes is up.

Speaking on behalf of what he’s seen all season from his players, Avs coach Jared Bednar sounded a confident note after the morning skate.

“They’ve given me the confidence we’re going to win tonight, because of all that they’re put into it,” Bednar said. “My advice to them is, I just want them to go out and we’re playing with the right intensity right from the start.”

That doesn’t figure to be a problem, after talking with some of the players.

“There’s not a lot of people outside of this locker room that thought we would be here,” forward Mikko Rantanen told BSN Denver. “We have to play north-south hockey and use our legs. Everybody will be ready for tonight.”

The only lineup change Bednar will make from the previous game is inserting defenseman Mark Alt in place of David Warsofsky. Jonathan Bernier will start in goal, presumably against Jake Allen – though that has not been made official. Carter Hutton led the Blues to a win Friday night in Chicago.

For Avs leading scorer Nathan MacKinnon, the team must use its speed to beat a bigger, more veteran team in the Blues.

“I think we’re faster. All four lines can really skate,” MacKinnon told BSN Denver. “That’s a big thing for us. We can all move. Even on the back end, we can move. So we’re going to have to be a really fast team. Be fast on the forecheck, make them turn and get them breathing heavy on a back-to-back.”

If the game is tied in the late going, Bednar said that, yes, he would pull the goalie. The Avs would have to; A 3-point game would be a loss for the Avs, their season over.

The Blues did not take part in a morning skate, having played in Chicago. No doubt, they will be ready to play though, too.

It’s winner-take-all.

“It’s a pretty cool spot that we’re in,” rookie Alexander Kerfoot said. “We’ll be in front of our crowd. It should be fun.”