[8:00 PM] Avalanche @ Wild

Who will WIN this matchup?

Colorado Avalanche (7-9-0)

@ Minnesota Wild (9-6-1)

 

Starting Goalies:

Calvin Pcikard (COL): Confirmed

Devin Dubnyk (MIN): Confirmed

 

• If the Hart Trophy were handed out today, Devan Dubnyk could be the one to grab it because the Minnesota Wild would be nowhere without their red-hot goaltender. Dubnyk leads the NHL in goals-against average (1.48), save percentage (.952) and shutouts (four) as Minnesota tries to start showing more support for its last line of defense when it hosts the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.

• First-year coach Jared Bednar told reporters Wednesday he expected Landeskog and Duchene to play against Dallas, but the captain didn’t make the trip and Duchene said he still wasn’t right after the morning skate and missed his third game. Rookie A.J. Greer was called up for the second time this week from San Antonio of the AHL and the 19-year-old recorded his first NHL point with an assist Thursday while playing on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Andreas Martinsen. With Duchene (six goals) and Landeskog (four) out of the lineup, Rene Bourque (five) is the only Colorado player with more than three goals.

•  Eric Staal is enjoying his first season in Minnesota with team bests of five goals and 13 points, recording five (one goal) in the three games prior to Minnesota’s 1-0 loss to Calgary on Tuesday. Zach Parise recorded four shots on goal and averaged more than 19 minutes of ice time in two games since missing six with a foot injury. Defensemen account for eight of the Wild’s 42 goals as Ryan Suter leads the way with four while boasting a team-best plus-9 rating.

• The Avalanche yielded three power-play goals in their last two games (11 chances) while Minnesota is 0-for-10 with the extra man in its last four contests.

• Dubnyk allowed nine goals in his last nine games, a stretch that began with three consecutive shutouts.

• Colorado RW Jarome Iginla has two goals this season but hasn’t scored in his last eight contests. He is 16th on the career goals list with 613 in 1,490 games and trails Avalanche executive vice president and general manager Joe Sakic by 12 for 15th all-time.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Minnesota Wild

Confidence: 5/10

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