Avalanche Seek Redemption Against Wild After Blackhawks Loss

The Colorado Avalanche are looking to bounce back quickly after a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. The team will face the Minnesota Wild on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. MT in Denver, aiming to regain momentum in a crucial matchup against one of the NHL’s top teams this season.

The Avalanche’s eight-game point streak came to an end in Chicago, where defensive lapses and a lack of offensive production from key players like Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Mikko Rantanen proved costly. Despite outshooting the Blackhawks 34-20, Colorado struggled to capitalize on opportunities, leaving head coach Jared Bednar frustrated with the team’s execution.

“I felt like we had a lot of chances [last night], just, it seemed at times that our execution wasn’t there,” Makar said after the game. “Whether it was through the neutral zone or D zone, also just letting them get their [blue] line easy a couple times that result in the goals.”

The Wild, meanwhile, enter the game on a four-game winning streak despite dealing with significant injuries. Star winger Kirill Kaprizov remains sidelined, and the team’s defensive corps is further depleted with Brock Faber and Jonas Brodin both out for Thursday’s game. Minnesota has also faced challenges in net, with Marc-Andre Fleury battling illness and backup Dylan Ferguson injured in the AHL.

Filip Gustavsson, who has been a standout for the Wild this season, will start in goal. Gustavsson boasts an 18-6-3 record with a 2.31 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. His performance will be critical as Minnesota looks to extend its winning streak against a determined Avalanche squad.

For Colorado, MacKenzie Blackwood will get the nod in net. Blackwood has been a revelation since joining the team, posting a 7-1-1 record with a 1.69 GAA and a .938 save percentage. The Avalanche will need another strong performance from him to counter Minnesota’s offensive threats, including Matt Boldy and Mats Zuccarello.

The game also marks a potential milestone for Nathan MacKinnon, who is just two points shy of reaching 800 career points. MacKinnon, along with Rantanen and Makar, will need to lead the charge if the Avalanche hope to secure a crucial win in the tightly contested Central Division.

Projected lineups for both teams reflect the ongoing injury challenges. For Colorado, Jonathan Drouin remains questionable, while Minnesota will rely on Travis Dermott and David Jiricek to fill gaps on defense. The Wild’s resilience and the Avalanche’s hunger for redemption set the stage for an intense showdown at Ball Arena.