If the Colorado Avalanche beat out the Minnesota Wild for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, no one will say they don't deserve it.

Here's where things stand Thursday morning:

(Courtesy: NHL.com)

At first glance, Colorado appears to have the edge. The Avalanche have a game in hand on the Wild and two more regulation-or-overtime wins, which would break a tie if necessary.

However, the teams' schedules tell a different story.

Take a look at Colorado's final stretch:

Yikes.

The Avalanche face teams holding playoff spots in every one of their final nine games, including a road back-to-back against the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues.

The Wild have it much easier:

Minnesota gets to face floundering lottery-bound Canadian teams four times, including a pair of home dates against the Calgary Flames.

The Wild even get one more game against the suddenly struggling Chicago Blackhawks, a team Minnesota hasn't lost to all season.

The games certainly aren't won and lost on the calendar, but the Avalanche face an uphill battle.

- With h/t to Micah Blake McCurdy

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