All Avalanche fans care about right now is finding out who their first-round opponent will be. They won’t have that answer until they’re on the ice for their final game of the regular season.

The Avalanche won again Tuesday, this time beating the Calgary Flames by a score of 2-1. Another meaningless game for the Avalanche, but it doesn’t hurt to build momentum heading into the playoffs.

Here are five takeaways from the evening.

1. The odds of the Avalanche playing a team from California in the first round of the playoffs increased even more Tuesday, but one thing they do know is they won’t headed to Utah. The Mammoth won in regulation, locking down the first wild-card spot. That means the Avalanche will play either the Ducks, Kings or Oilers when the playoffs get underway. Anaheim has been struggling, having lost eight of nine, including a 3-2 defeat at the hands of a Minnesota team that rested all its top players. Their final game is on the road in Nashville. Edmonton’s final game is at home against Vancouver. Los Angeles lost in overtime to Vancouver and remain in the final wild-card spot. Their final game is in Calgary.
2. The final 30 minutes or so of this game were spent trying to get Martin Necas his 100th point. Colorado finally succeeding in accomplishing that goal, but it didn’t happen until there were 17 seconds left in the game. Necas’ assist on Nathan MacKinnon’s 53rd goal of the season gives him the first 100-point season of his career. It also inches MacKinnon closer to the Rocket Richard Trophy. Unless Connor McDavid scores six goals in his final game, that award will go to MacKinnon. Don’t be surprised if both Necas and MacKinnon are given the final game of the season off.
3. Cale Makar returned, playing his first game since March 30. He didn’t look like he missed a beat, picking up three assists and attempting several coast-to-coast rushes. At one point he found himself on a shorthanded breakaway late in the second period. Those three assists give him 78 points on the season, which ties him for the third-most among NHL defensemen.
4. Brock Nelson has been a warrior for his entire career, having missed just 12 games over the last 12 years. Coach Jared Bednar mentioned last week he’d like to give Nelson a night off, and it’s possible the Avalanche had to tape him to his bed in the hotel room Tuesday to make that happen. Nelson was a scratch, as was Devon Toews, as the team looks to give some of their veteran players some time off before the playoffs.
5. Another player the Avalanche were trying to feed for a goal was Logan O’Connor, who has not found the back of the net since returning from injury. He was robbed on an odd-man rush in the third period and had several other good looks. Even without the goals, O’Connor has been a welcome addition back to the lineup.

Avalanche 3, Flames 1

What happened: Colorado didn’t have to be at its best to beat a Flames team that is out of it.

What went right: Mackenzie Blackwood is trending up as the playoffs near. The only shot that beat him Tuesday night was a nifty deflection in front by Blake Coleman. Beyond that, he was really sharp, swallowing pucks and not giving up many second-chance opportunities. If the Avalanche are going to roll with both goalies in the playoffs, at least both are playing well.

What went wrong: At this point, there are no downsides to these games. As long as the Avalanche got out of this game healthy, which it appears they did, they’re in good shape.

Avalanche goal scorers: Lehkonen (21), Landeskog (14), MacKinnon (53)

Flames goal scorers: Coleman (20)

Between the pipes: Blackwood finished with 30 saves.

What’s next: Just one more game until the playoffs, as the Avalanche host the Seattle Kraken on Thursday at 8 p.m.