Calvin Pickard will start in goal Thursday night when the Avalanche play Florida to open a four-game homestand.
Pickard stopped 15 of 16 shots after relieving Semyon Varlamov to start the second period Tuesday in the Avalanche's 6-3 loss in Minnesota, one that pulled the Wild ahead of them into the second wild card playoff position in the Western Conference.
The teams have 68 points each, but the Wild have played one fewer game.
Varlamov allowed three first-period goals on 12 shots after Jarome Iginla gave the Avalanche an early 1-0 lead with a power-play goal; the goal was the 608th of Iginla's NHL career, tying him with Dino Ciccarelli for 17th place.
Varlamov, who on Wednesday was one of three goalies named to Team Russia for the World Cup tournament in September, has been struggling in recent games. He allowed three third-period goals Saturday in the Avalanche's 5-3 loss to Detroit at Coors Field and has permitted 11 goals in seven periods in his past three starts.
The Avalanche were awful defensively Tuesday, especially in the first period when the Wild scored on two breakaways and a 2-on-1 rush, but coach Patrick Roy said after the game that his goalies still need to come up with a big save now and then. He said he met with Varlamov on Wednesday morning.
"We had a good talk and I explained to him that it's not easy for me to pull him against Minny," he said. "We know Varly's going to come back. Right now Pickard just seems more confident. I said to Varly, 'Work hard in the practice, you're going to have your chance and take advantage of it.'
"(Pickard) competes hard, and it's all about hard work. He has to be proud of himself because he's forced us to keep him and now he's getting an opportunity to play."
Pickard has won his past two starts. He made 30 saves Feb. 24 in a 4-3 shootout win against San Jose, and 25 saves Feb. 20 in a 3-2 win against Edmonton.
Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said Monday that Pickard would remain with the team for the rest of the season, with Reto Berra staying with San Antonio in the AHL.
"I thought for the most part last night went pretty well," Pickard said of his play. "It's unfortunate we gave up that (third-period) goal and ended up losing the game. It's a good opportunity for me tomorrow. Every game's huge at this point and the only thing we're looking for is a win.
"I've been called a lot in relief this year and that's part of being a backup goalie. I always have to be ready. Starting is a different breed; you know you're going in the day before and will have the morning skate (to prepare). When you go in relief you don't have a lot of time to think about it, you go in and play and try to give your team a chance to win."
Varlamov said he agreed with Roy's decision to replace him Tuesday and to start Pickard against the Atlantic Division-leading Panthers.
"It is what it is," he said. "That was the right decision when the goalie gives up three goals. It doesn't look good even though there were breakaways. It's not what I expect from me. I expect a big save when they need it. I was not that sharp to stop those shots, so it was the right decision and I respect that.
"Calvin deserves to play tomorrow, he's a good goalie and he's been playing very well for us lately. I just need to wait for when the coaching staff gives me a chance to play and be ready to play."
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Aside from Varlamov, captain Gabriel Landeskog (Team Sweden), center Nathan MacKinnon (Team North America, 23-and-under) and newly-acquired forward Mikkel Boedker (Team Europe) were the Avalanche players named to World Cup team's preliminary rosters.
No Avalanche players were chosen for Team Canada or Team USA, but more players will be added before the tournament begins in September.
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Panthers right wing Jaromir Jagr, 44, leads the team in scoring with 47 points (21 goals, 26 assists) and needs one point for 1,850 in his career, which will tie him with Gordie Howe for third place on the league's all-time list.
Jagr scored the winning goal Tuesday in Florida's 3-2 win at Winnipeg. He has 743 career goals, third all time, and a league record 133 game-winning goals.