wild/nhl

Preview: The Avalanche comes to town a high-scoring team that will be very difficult to beat if it can start keeping opponents' goal totals down. Colorado has scored 24 goals in seven games but has allowed 23, one reason for a 4-3 record. Last year was the first time the Wild won the season series with Colorado, going 4-2-2. Colorado holds an 20-11-6 edge all-time. The Wild is 7-7-4 vs. Colorado at home.

Players to watch: C Paul Stastny has picked up where he left off as a rookie last year for Colorado. He has five goals and 14 points, is a plus-3 and he has yet to score on the power play. Former Wild player Andrew Brunette has eight points and had seven points vs. the Wild last season. Joe Sakic has 30 career points vs. the Wild. Peter Budaj should be in goal tonight for the Avalanche. He had a 2.35 goals-against average in seven games vs. the Wild last season. For the Wild, Marian Gaborik had nine points in six games vs. Colorado last season. Goaltender Niklas Backstrom was 3-0-1 with a 2.16 goals-against average vs. Colorado last season.

Numbers: Colorado is 0-3 on the road this season and has scored just four goals while allowing 13 in those games. Minnesota is 3-0 at home. The two teams split four games at Xcel last season, with all four going into overtime.

Injuries: For the Wild, C Dominic Moore (abdominal strain) is out. For Colorado, W Milan Hejduk (back), D Karlis Skrastins (shoulder) and W Brad Richardson (wrist) are out.

KENT YOUNGBLOOD