Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)
In hockey parlance, it's a "yooge" game. Or at least as "yooge" as a game can be in early January.
The Avalanche can pull into what would be the second Western Conference wild card playoff spot by beating the Nashville Predators in regulation Friday night at the Pepsi Center. Both teams would have 45 points, but Colorado would have the edge because of more regulation and overtime wins.
"It's like a playoff kind of game for us," Avalanche coach Patrick Roy said after the morning skate. "Certainly it will be important for us to play a strong game tonight.