Scott Powers, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

W2W4: Blackhawks at Avalanche

DENVER -- Here’s what to watch for when the Chicago Blackhawks play the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on Saturday:

• The Blackhawks still don't know where they're playing in the first round. They could still play the St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators or Anaheim Ducks on the road in the first round. In order to play the Ducks, the Blackhawks would have to lose in regulation to the Avalanche, the Minnesota Wild would have to defeat Blues in overtime or a shootout and the Ducks would have lose to the Arizona Coyotes in regulation. For the Blackhawks to face the Blues, the Blackhawks would have to lose in regulation to the Avalanche and the Wild have to defeat the Blues. To play the Predators, the Blackhawks would have to pick up at least one point against the Avalanche and/or the Wild have to lose in any fashion to the Blues.

• The Blackhawks could know their fate before their game Saturday night because the Wild and Blues play at 2 p.m. CT. The Blackhawks could change their lineup depending on that game’s outcome.

• The Avalanche have been eliminated from the playoff race, so they’re playing for pride. They have won three of their last four games.

• The Blackhawks are on a three-game losing streak. They could have secured home-ice advantage this week, but lost to the Blues twice and once to the Wild.

• Goals have been difficult for the Blackhawks to come by lately. They were held to one goal in each of the last three games. They have scored less than two goals in 9-of-20 games since being without Patrick Kane.

• The Blackhawks have been limiting opponents’ goals, though. The Blackhawks haven’t allowed more than two goals in the last four games.

• Blackhawks rookie defenseman Michael Paliotta will make his NHL debut. He signed with the Blackhawks last month. He was drafted by the Blackhawks in the third round in 2011 and played the past four years at the University of Vermont.

• The Blackhawks’ lines are expected to be Kris Versteeg – Jonathan Toews – Marian Hossa, Brandon Saad – Antoine Vermette – Kyle Baun, Bryan Bickell – Andrew Shaw – Patrick Sharp, Joakim Nordstrom – Marcus Kruger – Teuvo Teravainen. Defenseman pairings are expected to be Duncan Keith – Paliotta, Johnny Oduya – Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson – Michal Rozsival.

• The Blackhawks will be without Kimmo Timonen (upper-body injury) and Brad Richards (upper body).

• Scott Darling will start in net for the Blackhawks. He is 9-3-0 with a 1.86 goals-against average and .939 save percentage this season. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov will start for the Avalanche. He is 27-20-8 with a 2.57 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.

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