After vying for the same playoff spot for weeks, the Wild and Avalanche will finally meet for a head-to-head battle that can easily be hyped as the most important matchup on the Wild's schedule.
At least until the next critical test comes along.
"I feel like we're going to have many biggest games of the year until the end of the season," goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury said. "This is the first one of them."
This clash on Wednesday at Xcel Energy Center has the chance to start the Wild down a road to redemption, with all four of their remaining opponents on this homestand division or conference rivals that have already defeated the Wild or are contending with them in the West's playoff race.
Closest of all those foes is Colorado, the defending Stanley Cup champions who are engaged with the Wild in a game of musical chairs in the standings.
"It'll be a great challenge, for sure," said Fleury, who didn't play when the Wild were walloped 6-3 by the Avalanche on Oct. 17 but has been given the nod in net for the rematch.
The veteran netminder returns after Filip Gustavsson stopped all but three of the 63 shots he faced over the past two games but won only once, the Wild following up a 3-2 shootout victory against the Devils on Saturday with a 2-1 shootout loss to the Panthers on Monday.
"We're aware maybe we're not scoring as much, but we all believe it's going to turn at some point," Fleury said. "As goalies, I think we have enough to worry about. That's something we don't have to think too much [about]. Just let the players figure it out and try to keep the game close and have a chance to get some points."
