The Colorado Avalanche (25-2-7) are on the road for one game to take on the Minnesota Wild (22-9-5) in a must-watch battle between two of the top three teams in the league. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:08 p.m. MT.
READ MORE: 10 Observations: A Fight, Two Assists and Josh Manson Owning the Night (+)
Key Stories to Watch
The Avs enter the matchup riding a four-game winning streak and are a league-best 8-1-1 in their last 10. Minnesota has won seven straight games and is 8-2-0 in its previous 10. Both the Avs (20-1-3) and Wild (19-3-2) have been red hot in their last 24 games.
With Quinn Hughes now in the Central Division, the Cale Makar comparisons will likely reach another level. Makar is the reigning Norris Trophy winner, while Hughes won it the previous season in 2023-24. Hughes has a goal and two assists in four games with the Wild, while playing a whopping 28:21 per game.
Colorado is expected to go with Mackenzie Blackwood in goal, although we won’t get confirmation until pregame warm-ups since there won’t be a morning skate. Blackwood is 10-1-1 on the season and will go up against Jesper Wallstedt (10-1-2) at the other end. Wallstedt was in goal when the Wild defeated the Avs in a shootout on Black Friday.
The Avalanche are eight points up on Minnesota, and four ahead of Dallas, with two games in hand on both teams. The Central Division trio are also the top three teams in the NHL. Games like tonight matter that much more for playoff positioning, as its unlikely that any other team unseats them for one of the top three spots.
Season Series
Nov. 28 at Minnesota Wild (L, 3-2 SO)
Dec. 21 at Minnesota Wild
Feb. 26 vs Minnesota Wild
March 8 vs Minnesota Wild
Avalanche Injuries
Logan O’Connor (undisclosed, TBD)
READ MORE: The Aftermath: Avalanche Outmuscle Jets To Extend Home Winning Streak at Ball Arena
Projected Avalanche Lines (Subject to Change)
Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Victor Olofsson — Ross Colton — Gavin Brindley
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Joel Kiviranta
Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Samuel Girard — Sam Malinski
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
Projected Starters (Subject to Change)
Expected: Mackenzie Blackwood (COL)
Confirmed: Jesper Wallstedt (MIN)
Upcoming Milestones
Brock Nelson — needs 5 assists for 300
Nathan MacKinnon — needs 5 goals for 400
How to Watch
TV: Altitude TV
Radio: 92.5 FM
