The set-up: From 1996 to 2002 either Colorado or Detroit won the Stanley Cup and the two rivals met four times in a 12-season span in the playoffs, with the winner going on to win it all. Back in 1997, the Red Wings ousted the Avalanche in the Western Conference finals on their way to winning the first of four Stanley Cup championships but now, 20 years later, Detroit is the East's last-place team while Colorado is the West's last-place team, as well as owning the NHL's worst record!

Detroit: The 26-30-11 Red Wings effectively conceded the playoffs by dealing players at the deadline to bolster their future and Detroit's streak of 25 consecutive postseason appearances, tied for the third-longest string in NHL history, comes to an end here in the 2016-17 season. The Red Wings play tonight in Colorado and then host the Avalanche Saturday in Detroit. Jimmy Howard, who returned from a sprained knee to beat Chicago on Friday in his first appearance since Dec. 20, is expected to get the nod in goal tonight, in the first game of this home-and-home series.

Colorado: The 19-46-3 Avalanche became the first team to be officially eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday (the sixth time in seven seasons Colorado has missed the playoffs) but in reality, Colorado was effectively eliminated from the postseason when it went on a 4-24-2 stretch that started in mid-November. Colorado has just 41 points and the next-worst team has 60 (Arizona). The Avalanche own the worst goal-differential mark (minus-91) and have scored the fewest goal of any team at 131 (next-fewest is the Devils' 153). Colorado has scored more than three goals once in the past 18 games.

The pick: The Red Wings and Avalanche had one of the best rivalries in sports 20 years ago but that was then and this is now. Recent history tells us that the road team has won seven straight meetings in the series but with status off the table in this meeting, I'm betting pride wins out for the home team. Make Red Wings a 10* play.