Wild Game Day number 25 Wild Record (13-7-4 30 pts) Home Record (9-3-1)
Opponent: Colorado Avalanche (11-14-1 23 pts) Road Record (8-8-0)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St Paul, Minnesota
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 10/9 Avalanche 0 @ Wild 5 10/11 Wild 3 @ Avalanche 0 2/7 Avalanche 0 @ Wild 1 2/28 Wild 3 @ Avalanche 1 3/8 Avalanche 3 @ Wild 2
Last Result: 10/8 Wild 5 @ Avalanche 4
The Wild once again welcome a team with a losing record to the X tonight, this time it is divisional foe the Colorado Avalanche. Colorado comes in having won 2 straight on the road and have been playing much better of late with the majority of their success on the road. Tonight will be the Avalanche's 11th road game of their last 13 games played and they have a 6-4-0 in those 10 previous road matches.
The Wild won the first meeting on opening night in Denver as you may recall in dramatic Zach Parise fashion. Zach led the third period comeback and got the Wild off to their winning start in 2015-16. Don't think for a second the Avalanche have forgotten that game and rest assured they will be out to avenge that defeat tonight in St. Paul.
The Wild are coming off 2 straight wins of their own both by the slimmest of margins 2-1 Tuesday over Chicago and 1-0 Thursday against the Leafs. The Wild have gone back to basics to tighten the reins defensively to get them back on the winning track. The Wild play best when they dictate the play from their own end with the exit of the defensive zone directed by their mobile defense and controlling the puck possession game. They have done that better the last couple games and will need to build on that tonight in order to be successful against the speedy Avalanche team tonight.
The Wild need to keep the train on the tracks and tonight will be a new challenge as the Avalanche bring a far different attack than do the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs. They are very fast and when they can dictate the pace of the game are very difficult to play against. Semyon Varlamov has been inconsistent this season after posting very good numbers the last 2 seasons. He is a very good goaltender and has the ability to steal a game just as he did on Tuesday night in NY against the Rangers where the Avalanche were outshot 25-18 but came away with the 2-1 win.
Devan Dubnyk is expected to start tonight but is on call as his wife Jennifer is due with their second child. Some very sad news also on the Wild personal front is the passing of Marco Scandella's father Wednesday. Our condolences to Marco and his family and hope the rink gives him a place to embrace the remembrance of his father and give him peace.
Let's Play Hockey!