The Minnesota Wild (34-21-4) is back in action tonight to face the Colorado Avalanche (34-24-2) for another game on the road. The Avalanche are two points behind the Wild for third in the Central Division. 

Following a loss last night to the Utah Hockey Club, the Wild look to avoid three straight losses. The Avalanche are coming off a win and are 6-4-0 in their last ten games and are 17-10-2 on home ice. 

The Wild are coming off two straight losses and are 6-4-0 in their last ten games. They still have the best road record in the NHL, though. The Wild dropped to 21-8-3 last night after their 6-1 loss to Utah. 

Minnesota made a line change in its last game and swapped Marcus Johansson with Matt Boldy. Freddy Gaudreau scored the Wild's only goal, which was assisted by Vinnie Hinostroza and Boldy. 

Jon Merrill could draw in tonight for Declan Chisholm, but we will find out during warmups. Filip Gustavsson is expected to start in goal tonight after Marc-Andre Fleury started yesterday. 

Tale As Old As Time: Wild's Penalty Kill Costing Them Again It has been a problem all season, but recently, it has been looming large. The penalty kill has been a problem for the last three years, it seems. 

Here are tonight’s projected lines (subject to change). 

Wild Projected Lines

Matt Boldy - Freddy Gaudreau - Vinnie Hinostroza

Marcus Johansson - Marco Rossi - Mats Zuccarello

Marcus Foligno - Marat Khusnutdinov - Liam Ohgren

Jakub Lauko - Devin Shore - Yakov Trenin

Defense:

Jake Middleton - Brock Faber

Jonas Brodin - Jared Spurgeon

Jon Merrill - Declan Chisholm

Starting Goaltender: Filip Gustavsson

Scratched: Ryan Hartman (suspended), Brendan Gaunce.

Injured: Kirill Kaprizov (lower), Joel Eriksson Ek (lower), Zach Bogosian. 

Avalanche Projected Lines

Artturi Lehkonen - Nathan MacKinnon - Martin Necas

Jonathan Drouin - Casey Mittelstadt - Valeri Nichushkin

Ross Colton - Jack Drury - Joel Kiviranta

Miles Wood - Parker Kelly - Logan O'Connor

Defense:

Devon Toews - Cale Makar

Samuel Girad - Sam Malinksi 

Calvin de Haan - Oliver Kylington

Starting Goaltender: MacKenzie Blackwood

Scratched: Keaton Middleton, Juuso Parsinen

Injured: Josh Manson (lower), Gabe Landeskog (knee), Tucker Poolman (upper).

Let us know what you think by commenting below!

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Jan 20, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (39) and center Nathan MacKinnon (29) defend on Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Foligno (17) in the first period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images.