8 p.m. vs. Colorado • Xcel Energy Center • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: The Wild must beat the Avalanche to force a Game 7 Wednesday in Denver. The home team has won all five games in the series, hence the Avalanche leads 3-2. The Wild beat Colorado at home in Games 3 and 4, outshooting the Avs 78-34. The Wild is coming off its second overtime loss of the series (Game 1 was the other). In both, the Wild allowed the tying goal after Colorado pulled its goalie for a 6-on-5. Thirteen of 18 all-time playoff meetings between Minnesota and Colorado have been decided by one goal, including 12 of the past 14.
Players to watch: C Matt Duchene (MCL), Colorado's leading scorer during the regular season and a dynamic young star, might return. RW Nathan MacKinnon became the second-youngest player in NHL history (18 years, 237 days) to score a playoff overtime goal in Game 5. MacKinnon has 10 points in three home games and no points in two road games. Wild LW Zach Parise is tied for sixth in playoff scoring with six points. RW Charlie Coyle leads the Wild with three goals. RW Jason Pominville and C Mikko Koivu have no goals in the series, but each has three assists.
Numbers: The Wild's penalty kill is a league-best 17-for-18 this series — it has allowed only an empty-net power-play goal — after ranking 27th in the regular season. Colorado's power play is clicking 5.6 percent of the time. … The Wild and Avalanche have gone to overtime eight times in 18 all-time playoff meetings (the Wild is 5-3 in those games; 1-2 in this series).
Injuries: Wild G Josh Harding (MS), G Niklas Backstrom (abdominal surgery), LW Matt Cooke (suspended) and LW Jason Zucker (quad) are out. Avalanche D Tyson Barrie (knee), C John Mitchell (concussion) and LW Alex Tanguay (hip) are out.
