Wild at Avalanche
The Minnesota Wild have struggled against some of the league's lightweights but they have a chance to head into the All-Star break on a three-game winning streak after they visit the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night. Colorado has been a nemesis for Minnesota, outscoring it 23-5 during a four-game winning streak before the Wild prevailed 3-2 on Oct. 27.
After losing three of four, with each of the defeats by three goals, Minnesota knocked off Columbus before winning at Vegas to move into third place in the Central Division -- one point ahead of the Avalanche. "It's important for us because when you do have the break, you're not gaining points by sitting out for eight days," said Wild coach Bruce Boudreau, whose team will have its league-mandated break following the All-Star Game. "You've gotta make hay when the sun shines." Colorado has been in a tailspin for more than 6 1/2 weeks, losing for the 15th time in 20 games (5-12-3) after suffering a 4-1 home loss to Nashville on Monday. "We need the points," Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon said. "I think Minny is ahead of us now, so we need to beat them and get back ahead of them during the break."
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, FS North, FS Wisconsin (Minnesota), Altitude (Colorado)
ABOUT THE WILD (25-21-3): Minnesota showed what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas, acquiring defenseman Brad Hunt from the Golden Knights in exchange for a sixth-round draft choice hours after beating them 4-2 on Monday. Hunt, who appeared in 33 games over parts of his first four seasons, recorded a career-best 18 points in 45 games with Vegas last season, including two goals and 10 assists on the power play. "He's a really good offensive player," Boudreau said. "Other than that, he's a great person, he can really move the puck as a smaller type D. He's got a really hard shot on the power play."
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (22-19-8): After returning home from a five-game road trip and mauling Los Angeles 7-1, Colorado's bid to win back-to-back games for the first time since Nov. 27-28 fizzled in the loss to the Predators. The No. 1 line of Mikko Rantanen, captain Gabriel Landeskog and MacKinnon, all bound for the All-Star Game, was a collective minus-6 and failed to hit the scoresheet. "Their success and our team success is are all tied to one another in that sense," coach Jared Bednar said. "I think those guys have a hunger to excel at what they do and help get our team to where we want it to go."
OVERTIME
1. MacKinnon has nine goals and 20 points in 24 games against the Wild.
2. Wild F Zach Parise has 15 goals and 34 points in 34 games versus Colorado.
3. Avalanche G Semyon Varlamov has yielded three goals in splitting two decisions against Minnesota this season.