The Houston Dynamo are still facing a deficit in the Western Conference playoff race in large part because they've put together consecutive victories just once this season.
The Dynamo appear to have a good chance for another streak Saturday night with a visit from the scuffling Colorado Rapids, but they'll have to break a 10-game winless skid in the series.
Houston (10-12-8) trails Portland by three points for the final postseason spot after a 1-0 victory over visiting Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday. Will Bruin provided the margin with his team-best 11th goal, one shy of matching his career high from 2012.
Tyler Deric posted a clean sheet after allowing a combined five goals in the Dynamo's back-to-back defeats.
"I think we were outstanding tonight and dominated the game," coach Owen Coyle told the team's official website. "That's got to be the same every week. That's got to be standard and got to be the level moving forward."
The Dynamo were 1-4-1 in their six games before Wednesday's victory but are 6-1-1 in their last eight home contests. That could give them a good opportunity for their first win streak since May 10-16.
Colorado (8-11-10) has lost five of seven on the road after its 3-1 defeat to Toronto FC last Saturday. The Rapids gave up all three goals in the first 38 minutes while dropping to 0-2-1 this month.
The West's last-place team is seven points out of a playoff spot with five games remaining.
"Everyone knows (the postseason) is still a possibility," midfielder Dillon Serna said. "We went on a three-game (win streak) a couple of times this season. A five-game run is possible, and that's what we're looking to do."
Colorado is 6-0-4 in its last 10 against Houston and won 2-1 at home in the latest meeting Aug. 26. Kevin Doyle scored the tiebreaking goal in the 79th minute, but the designated player could miss the rest of the regular season because of a strained abductor muscle.
Doyle's four goals in 17 games had him tied for the team lead with Gabriel Torres.
The Rapids are 1-0-3 in their last four trips to Houston, playing out a scoreless draw in the most recent one March 28.
The Dynamo won't have Boniek Garcia available for this game because of his red card in the 70th minute Wednesday.
Jermaine Taylor is out with a torn right quad while the statuses of fellow defender Kofi Sarkodie (knee) and midfielder Luis Garrido (hamstring) are unclear.
Houston's last win over Colorado was a 1-0 home victory April 19, 2009.
