Avalanche Face Wild in Critical Central Division Clash Tonight

DENVER, Colorado — The Colorado Avalanche will host the Minnesota Wild tonight at 9 p.m. ET, aiming to break a two-game losing streak in a crucial Central Division showdown.

The Avalanche, currently in fourth place in the Central Division, have struggled since returning from the Four Nations break, suffering losses to the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues. They sit four points behind the Wild and need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Colorado’s projected lineup includes Artturi Lehkonen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Martin Necas leading the charge on offense. Their defense will feature stars like Cale Makar and Devon Toews, both responsible for bolstering the team’s defensive efforts against Minnesota.

On the other hand, the Wild, after a disappointing 6-1 loss to the Utah Hockey Club, aim to rebound and maintain their position in the playoff race. Forward Marcus Foligno and playmaker Mats Zuccarello will be crucial as they attempt to exploit Colorado’s defensive weaknesses.

The Avalanche are expected to start Filip Gustavsson in goal after Marc-Andre Fleury allowed six goals in his last outing. Gustavsson has been solid this season, bringing a reliable presence in net amid the team’s recent struggles.

Colorado will be missing key players including Josh Manson and Gabriel Landeskog due to injuries, while Ryan Hartman continues to serve an eight-game suspension for a hitting offense in early February. Meanwhile, the Wild will not have Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek, also sidelined by lower-body injuries.

The Avalanche are favored by sportsbooks, with moneyline odds showing Colorado at -340 compared to Minnesota at +270. Enthusiasts are anticipating a high-paced game, with the over/under set at 6.5 goals.

“Every game is vital at this stage of the season. We know what’s at stake,” Mackinnon commented. “We need to take advantage of playing at home, energize the crowd, and seize this opportunity.”

The last meeting between the two teams saw the Wild come out on top, but Colorado will look to reverse that trend on home ice tonight. Hockey fans are eager to see whether the Avalanche can gain momentum or if the Wild will assert their superiority in this highly competitive matchup.