Avs now out of Western Conference playoff spot after Blues win

One of the first rules of hockey: You’ll get no help on the out-of-town scoreboard when you really need it. Everything must be earned yourself.

There have been a few exceptions. In 2003, the Avs won a division title for a record ninth straight time on the last day of the regular season, by beating St. Louis at home, then awaiting the result of a late game between the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks. Only a Canucks loss in regulation would give the Avs the division title, and the Kings were not only terrible that season, they were decimated with injuries entering that game at Vancouver’s G.M. Place.

But somehow, Cristobal Huet shut out the Canucks 2-0, and the Avs had their record ninth straight division flag.

On Tuesday night, the Avs got no help on the scoreboard, as the St. Louis Blues leapfrogged them in the Western Conference playoff race with a 3-2 shootout win over San Jose. The Avs have 90 points, but the Blues have 91 now, and each team has six games remaining. The Avs can take a playoff spot back Wednesday night with a win over Philadelphia at home.

The Avs have lost two out of their last three games. In the two losses, to L.A. and Vegas, they were outscored a combined 11-2. Despite a 6-3-1 record overall in the last 10 games, it hasn’t been good enough to stay in the top eight. St. Louis is now 8-2-0 in its last 10.

The Avs and Blues play in the final game of the regular season, in Denver.

The Avs took the day off Tuesday. They have not been practicing much on off-days of late. They need to be ready to win against the Flyers, though, or else things might start looking pretty desperate.

Avs schedule from here:

Wed: Philly, 8 p.m.

Fri: Chicago, 7 p.m.

Sun: At Anaheim, 7 p.m.

Mon: At. L.A., 8:30 p.m.

Thurs: At San Jose, 8:30 p.m.

Sat: St. Louis, 7 p.m.

Blues schedule from here:

Fri: at Vegas

Sat: At Arizona

Mon: Washington

Wed: Chicago

Fri: At Chicago

Sat: At Colorado