Preview: The Wild, 2-1-1 on a four-game trip before a 1-1 homestand, plays its next four on the road. Minnesota is 17-3-4 in its past 24 regular-season games at Colorado, including a 64-49 goal advantage and six shutouts. The Wild is 8-1-1 in the past 10 overall games against Colorado, outscoring the Avs 33-13 with a 336-244 shot advantage.
Players to watch: Wild C Eric Staal is on a five-game point streak, his longest since a six-game stretch in Jan. 2014. G Devan Dubnyk has allowed two goals in his past four starts. He is 4-1-1 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .967 save percentage in his past six starts. D Ryan Suter leads the Wild with seven assists and 10 points. Avalanche RW Jarome Iginla is the all-time leader against the Wild in games (81), goals (39), points (71), shots (256) and game-winning goals (10). LW Gabriel Landeskog and C Matt Duchene each have 17 points against the Wild.
Numbers: The Avs have scored 20 goals in nine games, the second-fewest in the NHL. Only 13 have been at 5-on-5. At 5-on-5, the Wild has 25 goals, second-most in the NHL. … The Wild has the NHL's best penalty kill (26 for 27, 96.3 percent). … The Wild's 101 points against Colorado is its second-most against any franchise.
Injuries: Wild LW Zach Parise (foot), D Marco Scandella (ankle), C Erik Haula (foot) and C Zac Dalpe (knee) are out. The Avs have no injuries.
Michael Russo
