"It was win or go home for both teams, so we've been in more pressure situations," Barrie said. "We don't want to leave it to the last game again this year, but if it happens, so be it.
"We know we're in a dogfight, and it's going to be a huge six games down the stretch."
The Avalanche are finding ways to get points without two of their top forwards; Gabriel Landeskog missed his eighth straight game because of an upper-body injury, and Mikko Rantanen (upper body) has been out the past two. Rantanen's 87 points (31 goals, 56 assists) in 74 games are second on the Avalanche to forward Nathan MacKinnon's 92 (37 goals, 55 assists) in 76 games. Landeskog is third with 69 points (33 goals, 36 assists).
The game Sunday was the first time Colorado has been held to fewer than three goals since March 11, when it lost 3-0 to the Carolina Hurricanes.
But goalie Philipp Grubauer has been critical to the recent success. Grubauer, who is 15-9-4 with a 2.71 goals-against average and .914 save percentage, has allowed six goals in his past five starts. He saved 40 of 42 shots against the Blackhawks on Sunday.
"I mean, he looks fast. He looks like he's reading the play really well, anticipating where the puck's going to go, looks real quick laterally," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said of Grubauer. "There are just so many things I like about his game, but the No. 1 thing I'm noticing right now is he's reading the play and has a real good understanding where the puck's going to go before it goes there and where the shooters are."
It would be easy to get caught up in the emotions of the playoff race, but Grubauer said he hasn't.
"If you get emotionally invested or wrapped up in some situations, I think you're already behind a step as a goalie," he said. "I don't know how the other guys see it, but everyone knows what we're playing for here and every point is important. The focus is the same, if not stronger, before the games."
The Avalanche are still in good shape heading into the final stretch; they play four of six games at Pepsi Center, where they're 17-14-6. They could get Rantanen and Landeskog back soon. Rantanen is day-to-day; Landeskog was originally expected to be out at least four weeks after being injured March 7, but Bednar said Saturday the Avalanche captain could return sooner.
It's going to be a tense two weeks, but the Avalanche are prepared.
"If you're still playing meaningful hockey at the end of March, it means you're doing something right," Barrie said. "It is exactly that. It's exciting, it can be a bit nerve-wracking at times, but when you're out there, you're in the game and not thinking about it. But it's a lot of fun. You have to embrace the moment."
