Preview: The Wild, coming off consecutive home losses, closes a homestand against the down-and-out Avalanche before hitting the road for four consecutive. The Wild is 10-3 in its past 13 home games against Colorado. The Avalanche, overall, is 1-13-2 in its past 16 games and has one road victory since Jan. 14.

Players to watch: LW Pierre-Marc Bouchard has nine points in his past nine games. LW/C Matt Cullen has seven goals and 12 points in his past eight games vs. Colorado. Avs RW Milan Hejduk has 46 points in 57 games against the Wild. He ranks first all-time vs. the Wild with 12 power-play goals.

Numbers: When scoring first, the Wild is 26-2-4. When giving up the first goal, the Wild is 8-23-3. The opponent has scored first in the Wild's past 12 losses. The Wild has averaged 3.59 goals per game in its 33 victories and 1.53 in its 32 losses.

Injuries: Wild LW Guillaume Latendresse (abdominal) and LW Andrew Brunette (sick) are questionable. D Clayton Stoner (lower body) didn't practice Monday but is probable. C Mikko Koivu (finger) is out. Avalanche LW Tomas Fleischmann (blood clots in lungs), RW Peter Mueller (concussion), D Kyle Cumiskey (head), C T.J. Galiardi (arm), LW/C Ryan Stoa (appendectomy) and D Kyle Quincey (shoulder) are out.

MICHAEL RUSSO