Preview: The Wild's seven-game winning streak is tied for the longest in franchise history. The Wild has won six in a row at home and is 9-1-3 in its past 13 games overall. The Wild, which leads the NHL with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage, leads the Western Conference with a plus-29 goal differential. The Avalanche ranks 28th with 2.2 goals scored per game and 30th with 3.2 goals against. The Avs have lost 10 of their past 12 by a combined 47-26.
Wild-Colorado game preview
December 20, 2016 at 5:17AM
Players to watch: Colorado has beaten the Wild twice in two meetings, but LW Zach Parise didn't play in either game. Parise has scored 13 goals and 30 points in 26 games against Colorado. C Mikko Koivu has 40 points in 61 games against the Avs. D Ryan Suter leads the NHL with a plus-22. C Eric Staal, the NHL's Third Star of the Week, has five goals and three assists in the past seven games. Avs RW Jarome Iginla is the all-time leader against the Wild in games (83), goals (39) and points (72). C Matt Duchene is tied for 21st in the NHL with 12 goals. C Nathan Mac-Kinnon has 10 points in 15 games against Minnesota.
Numbers: The Wild has outscored its past four opponents 17-5 and has outscored its past six home opponents 24-8. The Wild has scored first in 10 of its past 12 games (it is 12-4-3 when scoring first this season).
Injuries: Wild C Erik Haula (lower body) is out. Avs D Erik Johnson (fibula) is out, G Semyon Varlamov (groin) is expected to play and C Joe Colborne (lower body) is day-to-day.
Michael Russo
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The star forward came back from a brief injury absence, and two goals from Frederick Gaudreau helped Minnesota to another road victory.
