wild gameday
9 p.m. at COLORADO • PEPSI CENTER • FSN, 100.3 FM
Preview: The Wild shut out the Avalanche in three straight meetings (combined 9-0), the first NHL team to accomplish that feat since 2007-08. The Wild, 14-3-2 in its past 19 games, has won six of eight on the road and has climbed over .500 on the road (15-14-2). It is 14-3-3 in its past 19 games in Denver. Colorado played in Dallas on Friday night.
Players to watch: Wild LW Nino Niederreiter, the first Swiss native to score 20 goals in an NHL season, has five goals in the past six games and is second on the team with 21 goals. G Devan Dubnyk is expected to make his 20th consecutive start, tying Niklas Backstrom's franchise record. In Thursday's win at Nashville, LW Zach Parise went scoreless with no shots for the first time this season. Avalanche RW Jarome Iginla is the all-time leader vs. the Wild in points (67), goals (37), shots (239) and game-winning goals (10) in 74 games.
Numbers:The Wild has killed 36 of 37 opposing power plays since the All-Star break.
Injuries: Wild D Jared Spurgeon (head), LW Jason Zucker (collarbone), LW Ryan Carter (upper body), LW Matt Cooke (sports hernia) and D Keith Ballard (concussion) are out. Avalanche D Erik Johnson (knee), LW Patrick Bordeleau (knee), LW Jamie McGinn (back), D Ryan Wilson (shoulder) and C Jesse Winchester (concussion) are out.
MICHAEL RUSSO
