Avalanche Use the Layoff to Patch Up Before Facing Vegas

Colorado is treating the break like a chance to get whole again, which is exactly how contenders think when the calendar flips to the conference finals. The Avs know the margin against Vegas can get razor-thin, so every extra day off matters when bodies are banged up and the stakes get heavier. The rest is useful, but it can also dull the edge if a team is not careful.