Gameday: Wild at Colorado

Last update: November 10, 2007 - 10:20 PM

Preview: The Wild, which hasn't played since beating Edmonton on Monday, opens a four-game road trip to its four Northwest Division foes. The Wild has won two in a row after an 0-4-1 stretch, which included a 3-1 loss at Colorado on Oct. 28. The Wild, 4-14-2 all-time at Colorado, is 0-2-1 against its division on the road. A Wild victory, at least temporarily, would mean first place in the division.

Players to watch: C Joe Sakic, who leads the Avalanche in scoring against the Wild with 33 points in 36 games, has one goal in his past 11 games and none in the past six. C Paul Stastny has two goals in the past games. G Peter Budaj (5-4-2 vs. the Wild with a 2.74 goals-against average and .900 save percentage) is expected to start. It would be the eighth consecutive game in which he and Jose Theodore alternated. Ex-Wild F Andrew Brunette has six goals and 15 points in 19 games vs. Minnesota. C Mikko Koivu, who has six assists in his past four games, has nine goals in 17 games vs. the Avalanche.

Numbers: The Wild has given up a power-play goal in seven of its past eight games. ... The Avalanche (8-1 at home) has two home sellouts in nine games; its sellout streak, the longest in NHL history, ended last season at 487 games.

Injuries: Avs D Jordan Leopold (wrist) and D Karlis Skrastins (shoulder) are out. LW Pavol Demitra (groin) and C Wes Walz (leave of absence) are out, G Niklas Backstrom (groin) is questionable, LW Stephane Veilleux (cheekbone) is doubtful, and RW Marian Gaborik (groin) is a game-time decision.

MICHAEL RUSSO

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