CENTENNIAL, Colo. — Gabriel Landeskog, Darren Helm, Josh Manson, Cale Makar, Erik Johnson and Pavel Francouz. As it has all season, the Avalanche’s injured list continues to grow. But the goal remains the same: Just make the playoffs. And hope to be healthy by then.

“The most important thing is getting in and then getting in healthy with the team that you feel can compete for the Cup,” said head coach Jared Bednar, who admitted that having home-ice advantage in the postseason isn’t as important as it usually is. “It’s all speculation at this point because we haven’t seen our team.”

The Avs are 8-2-1 in their last 11 games and, outside a tough stretch following the holiday break, have done an admirable job remaining in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race given the injuries they’ve dealt with. They currently sit third in the Central Division but not by much.

Bednar said Johnson and Francouz — both dealing with lower-body injuries — are still being evaluated with no clear timeline for their return. Makar’s head injury is still being taken day by day, as is usually the case for concussion-related issues. Manson, who has been inching ever-so-close to a return, is also unlikely to dress in Tuesday’s rematch against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Manson was no longer sporting a non-contact sweater when the team took the ice on Monday.

“It’s a different team from last year. Lots of players moving on, and lots of new guys,” Bednar said. “But I like our team on paper. If we can ever get it together.”

Colorado is one year removed from having one of its best regular seasons in team history. The Avs were able to clinch a playoff spot, and secure the top seed, well in advance of the final regular-season game. It gave Bednar the ability to try new things, and really put things to test before the long playoff run.

But that isn’t necessarily the way he always likes it to be.

“I think there’s value to both sides of it,” he said, comparing last year’s dominance to this year’s competition in the standings. “Having to fight and having to fight to get in and play meaningful hockey and playoff hockey before you’re in is something I think we should expect. We should expect it every year.

“We did a lot of experimentation down the stretch run and we were able to also get some rest.”