From a little birdie, Josh Harding in goal.

Nick Schultz is sick, so Petteri Nummelin is dressing. Derek Boogaard is scratched, and Mark Parrish is replacing him. James Sheppard, I think is out, replaced by Benoit Pouliot. 

Everybody’s in for Colorado that matters. Safe to say the Avs want to play the Wild and not San Jose.

Game 82 of the season, and finally the Wild’s playoff opponent is guaranteed to be determined by roughly 4:30 CT.

– The Wild wins in regulation, it hosts Calgary, probably Thursday and Saturday (so there can be a Hockey Night in Canada game; the Swarm game would be moved to accomodate).

– The Avalanche loses in overtime/shootout or wins, it will face the Wild in the first round, with Games 1 and 2 probably Wednesday and Friday and Games 3 and 4 in Denver back-to-back Monday and Tuesday.

Check back after today’s games and I’ll post the official schedule as soon as the NHL releases it. Above is just speculation.

So, be honest, do you want the Wild to win or lose?

My feeling is it doesn’t matter. This time of year, it’s pick your poison, so if I was the Wild, put all scenarios out of your head and just play.

– If it plays Calgary, it has to overcome the Saddledome, shut down Jarome Iginla and beat a goaltender who’s got the capability to get sickly hot, Miikka Kiprusoff. The Flames also have a tremendous blue line, but as far as supporting cast forwards, the Wild is deeper and scarier.

– If it plays Colorado, it’s got to overcome Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Paul Stastny, Milan Hejduk, Andrew Brunette, Ryan Smyth, etc. That’s no easy series, and the Avs are playin’ quality hockey right now. Jose Theodore has resurrected his career in goal. Colorado’s weakness is its blue line. 

But what do you think?

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