NHL Playoff Death Watch: Huge loss for Avalanche; East wild card drama

Since we're down to the final moments of postseason life for teams in contention, Puck Daddy solemnly begins a daily countdown to annihilation.

Saturday’s loss to the Minnesota Wild in regulation was a potentially devastating one for the Colorado Avalanche.

Their odds for making the playoffs dropped to 5.1 percent overall, and they have just five percent chance of making the final wild card, according to Sports Club Stats.

The Wild’s victory gave them 85 points to the Avalanche’s 80 points. Colorado still has a game in-hand but lost their lead in ROW wins, as the Wild matched them with 34.

Their tragic number dropped to nine.

In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Red Wings caught a major break as the Philadelphia Flyers lost to the Arizona Coyotes after the Wings were blown out by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Both teams remained tied at 85 points, but the Flyers have a game in-hand.

Here are the current standings. The Death Watch tracks the final Wild Card spot and the teams that are chasing it. Their “tragic number” is the number of points gained by the final wild card team or lost by the team chasing it.

All playoff percentages are from Sports Club Stats; tragic numbers and other figures via the NHL. A team is eliminated from play-offs when their "Tragic Number" hits 0.

The Eastern Conference picture, via the NHL:

The Buffalo Sabres (tragic number of one) and the Montreal Canadiens live on to play another day!

Big win for the Boston Bruins over the Toronto Maple Leafs, as the moved three points up on the Wings and moved three points away from the Tampa Bay Lightning for home ice in the first round.

The Florida Panthers defeated those Bolts to move two points ahead for the Atlantic lead, and have a rather friendly schedule the rest of the way.

Here are the latest Eastern Conference playoff odds from Sports Club Stats:

*Wild Card Teams

The Islanders’ overtime win over the Hurricanes improved their playoff odds to 98.5 percent, and they now have a 47-percent chance of taking the first wild card.

The Rangers face the Penguins on Sunday, with the Pens four points behind and with a game in-hand.

The Devils host the Hurricanes. They’re five points out of the wild card, but running out of runway.

Meanwhile, in the West:

Fare thee well Calgary Flames, who have been eliminated.

The Predators keep pace with the Chicago Blackhawks in the race for the No. 3 seed in the Central. The Hawks are in Vancouver today, which will give the Preds a game in-hand.

The Ducks also kept pace with the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific race, staying three points behind.

Here are the latest Western Conference playoff odds from Sports Club Stats:

*Wild Card Teams

The Stars’ win and the Washington Capitals’ loss kept Dallas with a tragic number of one for the President’s Trophy.

--

Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

MORE FROM YAHOO HOCKEY