Injuries leave Colorado Avalanche out in the cold

The battle for first place in the National Hockey League's Northwest division is proving just how important that a division title is once the playoffs start. The winner gets at least the third seed in the postseason, which means home-cookin' and a weaker opponent to feast upon for at least the opening round. For the Colorado Avalanche and the Edmonton Oilers this year, the division title also means avoiding the eighth playoff spot, a.k.a. the sacrificial lamb for the top seed in the Western Conference, which will probably be either St. Louis or Detroit. That eighth spot is not guaranteed, either, because at 67 and 71 points respectively, Colorado and Edmonton are in stiff competition with each other and a host of other teams for the final playoff spot.