The Wild has been able to keep up with some of the juggernauts in the conference, prying points away from the likes of the Golden Knights, Predators and Sharks.
But the challenge presented by a speedy team like the Avalanche is one that has befuddled the Wild, as it did Friday in a 7-1 shellacking at Pepsi Center that wrapped its brief two-game road trip at 0-2.

"It's usually on the road," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We have no choice but to correct it or we won't be playing much longer."
Boudreau did point out that the team had success against a quick group in the Devils last week, and there have been other similar outcomes – against Vegas, Toronto and Tampa Bay.
This is two straight lopsided defeats against the Avalanche, though, and in both cases the Wild couldn't corral Colorado's talented forwards and the defensemen who supported the rush.
Perhaps being the visitor while the home team feeds off the energy of the crowd is part of the problem, but Boudreau doesn't believe it's a matter of the team not having last change on the road. So the search for answers continues, especially since the Avalanche won't be the last fast group the Wild encounters the rest of the way.
"A lot of times we get the matchups we want, especially on defense against their forward lines," Boudreau said. "Whatever it is, we gotta figure it out."
Here's what else to watch for after the Wild's loss to the Avalanche.