Wild gameday 3 p.m. vs. Colorado • FSN, 100.3-FM
Black Friday matinee at the X
Preview: The Wild improved to 5-1-1 in its past seven games after getting by the Sabres 5-4 Wednesday. This is the start of three straight games against the Central Division; the Wild is 2-3 within its division so far. Like the Wild, the Avalanche has 23 points after winning two straight and three of its past four. The Avalanche is 4-7 on the road.
Players to watch: Center Nathan Mac-Kinnon leads the Avalanche in points with 25 and is coming off a three-point effort Wednesday in a 3-0 win over the Stars. Goalie Jonathan Bernier made 28 saves for the shutout. Captain Gabriel Landeskog has 20 points in 29 career games against the Wild.
Numbers: The Wild has won three straight over the Avalanche and has banked at least a point in 12 of its past 15 meetings with Colorado. Nino Niederreiter's five-game goal streak is one game shy of the longest in Wild history. The Avalanche is 10-1 when leading after two periods. Bloomington native Erik Johnson has two goals in his last two games.
Injuries: Wild F Zach Parise (back surgery) is out. Avalanche G Semyon Varlamov (illness), F Vladislav Kamenev (arm) and D's Anton Lindholm (jaw) and Patrik Nemeth (lower body) are also out.
SARAH MCLELLAN
