Dater’s Daily Links: Avs opening lead on Stars

A six-point lead, with a game in hand. That’s the margin the Avalanche now have on the Dallas Stars, who were shut out last night by the Nashville Predators.

The Avs have 88 points, Dallas has 82. The Avs have 16 games remaining on the schedule. The Stars have 15. If the Avs can beat out Dallas, they will guarantee themselves at least a second-place finish in the division, which would get them home-ice advantage in the first round. The Avs haven’t had home ice in a playoff series since Round 1, 2014, against Minnesota.

Let’s do some links around the league:

• In Dallas, the mood is becoming a bit more grim about the division chase, after last night (Dallas Morning News)
• The NHL salary cap is slated to rise (NHL.com)
• I can’t believe it’s happened, but the Minnesota Wild is in a playoff spot right now. (Star Tribune)
• Health officials in San Jose wanted the Sharks to cancel last night’s game with the Wild because of the coronavirus (USA Today)
• Could the Avs-Sharks game Sunday in San Jose be in trouble of cancellation – or at least played with no fans? Guess we’ll find out, huh? I am slated to cover that game.
• NHL is banning international business travel for many employees (Global News)
• More on what pro leagues, including the NHL, have in the works should this thing get bigger (New York Post)
• Mika Zibanejad had FIVE goals last night for the Rangers (New York Post)
• Why picking the coach of the year is going to be tough this year (and Jared Bednar should be a finalist in my view) (Hockey News)
• With four losses in a row, the Vancouver media is starting to get a little impatient with the Canucks – tonight’s Avs opponent (Vancouver Province)

THREE THINGS I THINK

1. I think the chicken biscuit sandwich I just had at Chick Fil A, at DIA, concourse B, was both delicious and a good bargain ($2.92 plus tax).
2. I think I lucked out big-time when the new rolling computer/travel bag I bought at Staples was given to me at the marked price of $42 – not the $179 it should have been. They had the wrong price tag on it when I brought it up to the counter. It was a clerical error, for sure, but the nice person at Staples – in Westminster, 120th and Sheridan area – gave it to me at the $42 price. Thank you Staples.
3. I think falling asleep at 1 a.m., getting up at 3:15 a.m., to get on the 6 a.m. flight I’m waiting for as I type this, isn’t fun. A nap this afternoon could well be part of this day.

Have a fun Friday everyone.