As sports metaphors go, the Colorado Mammoth clinching home-floor advantage throughout the playoffs is like attempting a three-inch putt.

Unless the Mammoth completely collapses Saturday against the Anaheim Storm and the Toronto Rock wins both of its remaining games, the road to the Champion's Cup will pass through Denver.

For the record, any of the following will do the trick:

• Colorado defeats Anaheim tomorrow night
• Calgary defeats Toronto tonight
• Rochester defeats Toronto next weekend
• Colorado's season-long goal differential remains greater than Toronto's (presently +43 for the Mammoth, +29 for the Rock)

One figures that the Rock understands the situation and won't take foolish chances for a slim shot at hosting the Mammoth in a possible championship game matchup. That said, expect Toronto to come out firing, at least until there's no longer a chance of securing the top overall seed.

As it stands now, Toronto will have a first-round bye in the playoffs, hosting the winner of the Eastern Division semifinal some time during the weekend of 23-25 April, and (assuming that's a victory) is guaranteed to host any Western Division team other than Colorado in the title game.

The other three Eastern Division teams are in the mix to become Toronto's opponent in the Eastern final. Rochester and Philadelphia will play tomorrow for the last playoff spot, while Buffalo waits to learn who it will face in the first round -- and where.

Here's how it breaks down:

Buffalo hosts the Eastern semifinal by defeating Philadelphia on Sunday.

Rochester clinches a playoff berth by defeating Philadelphia on Saturday, and would host the Eastern semifinal by also defeating Toronto next weekend and with a Buffalo loss to the Wings.

Philadelphia secures the playoff berth by defeating Rochester, and gets to host the first-round playoff game by beating Buffalo, too.

Out west, the Calgary Roughnecks and San Jose Stealth (8-5 each) are in a tight race for the number-two seed and the right to host the Western semifinal.

Calgary has a slight edge in that it can clinch the home game in the first round of the playoffs by winning twice this weekend, tonight against Toronto and tomorrow at San Jose.

The Stealth can not yet guarantee itself a home playoff game.

They both, however, can clinch playoff berths. Calgary can do it several ways:

• With a win tomorrow at San Jose
• With a win tonight against Toronto AND one Arizona loss
• With two Arizona losses

San Jose can secure a playoff spot by a number of means:

• With two wins this weekend (tonight at Anaheim, tomorrow versus San Jose)
• With one win AND one Arizona loss
• With two Arizona losses

Arizona, at 6-7, remains mathematically alive but in need of serious help. The Sting's easiest route to the playoffs is by winning the remaining three games on the schedule (home-and-home against Vancouver this weekend, and at San Jose next week).

Even that won't be enough, at least not alone. Calgary must either lose all three of its remaining games or it must defeat San Jose tomorrow night.

Stay tuned.