Preview: Wild at Colorado

Last update: February 1, 2007 - 7:35 AM

8 P.M. AT COLORADO AVALANCHE PEPSI CENTER, FSN, 830-AM

Preview: Colorado can inch within two points of the eighth-place Wild with a victory or fall six behind with a loss. This is the third of a five-game road trip for the Wild, which split the first two and won 5-2 at St. Louis on Tuesday. This is the fifth of eight meetings; Colorado won three of the first four, including two shootout victories at Minnesota. The Wild is 2-12-2 all-time at the Pepsi Center.

Players to watch: C Pavol Demitra, coming off his first two goals since Jan. 4, has 32 points in 31 career games vs. the Avs. RW Marian Gaborik, who has two assists in his past four games, has 20 points in 28 games vs. the Avs. LW Mark Parrish is a plus-10 in his past 11 games and hasn't had a minus game since Dec. 29. Avs C Joe Sakic has 29 points in 30 games vs. the Wild. G Petr Budaj will start for Colorado.

Numbers: The Wild is 5-for-68 (7.3 percent) on the power play in the past 12 road games. ... Avs D Karlis Skrastins will play in his 484th consecutive game, two short of Tim Horton's record for defensemen.

Injuries: G Manny Fernandez (knee) is doubtful and D Kurtis Foster (knee) and C Todd White (leg) are out for the Wild. Avs D John-Michael Liles (foot), D Patrice Brisebois (back) and LW Brad May (shoulder) are out.

MICHAEL RUSSO

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