Avalanche will play either Chicago or Arizona in first round of NHL playoffs

HINTON, ALBERTA – Blackhawks or Coyotes. The Avalanche will play one of those teams in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs some time next week. The Chicago Blackhawks’ elimination of Edmonton tonight in their qualifier series added clarity to the Avs’ near-term future, and it comes down to this:

If the Avs beat the Vegas Golden Knights Saturday, they’ll play the Blackhawks in Round 1. If the Avs lose to Vegas, they’ll play the Arizona Coyotes. It’s that simple.

We still don’t have a starting time, by the way, for the Avs-Vegas game. That should come out shortly. There will be only one game at Rogers Place tomorrow, the Avs-Knights game. UPDATE: Game is at 1 p.m. mountain.

Who do you want as the opponent in the first round, Avs fan? The floor is yours. Tell me who, and why.

I would say that I think the Avs would be better off playing the Coyotes, but by no means am I disrespecting them as a team. I just think that the Blackhawks look hotter right now, and they’ve got guys who have won three Stanley Cups on the roster and who are playing well right now, especially captain Jonathan Toews.

Chicago will enter the playoffs as the No. 8 seed, and Arizona seventh. Colorado can finish no lower than the second seed for Round 1.