Avalanche vs. Wild, Game 53: Lines, Notes & How to Watch

Coming off a tough overtime loss at home, the Colorado Avalanche will have a chance to bounce back immediately.

That’s because their schedule over the next few weeks is truly bizarre. And their head coach is not a fan.

“I hate it,” Jared Bednar said about their schedule after the loss to Tampa Bay. “Every back to back, the team is waiting on us, resting. I find it odd that’s the best scheduling we can come up with. Seems strange to me that that’s the best they can do.”

For the first time in weeks, the Avalanche went with a traditional 12 forward, six defenseman lineup against Tampa Bay. Don’t expect that tonight. Ben Meyers was sent down after the game. With no one else on the roster, that would seem to indicate Josh Manson is ready to return to the lineup. Without Cale Makar, Manson should provide a boost to a defense currently relying on Toews, Girard, and Byram to carry the load.

With Pavel Francouz out, expect Alexandar Georgiev to start in net again.

The Avalanche will face the team they’re currently tied in the standings with in the Minnesota Wild. That makes this game very important.

The Wild, like the Avalanche, currently have 61 points. Much like the Avalanche, it’s been a struggle for them after the All-Star break, losing four of their last five games. They’re currently led by Kirill Kaprizov, who has 63 points in 53 games.

This is the second of three matchups between the teams. They will meet again at the end of March at Ball Arena.

Expected Colorado Avalanche Lines

Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Valeri Nichushkin

Evan Rodrigues – J.T. Compher – Mikko Rantanen

Matt Nieto – Alex Newhook – Denis Malgin

Logan O’Connor – – Andrew Cogliano

Defense

Devon Toews – Samuel Girard

Josh Manson – Bowen Byram

Kurtis MacDermid – Brad Hunt

Andreas Englund

Goalies

Alexandar Georgiev

Jonas Johansson

Expected Minnesota Wild Lines, per PuckPedia.com

Kirill Kaprizov – Ryan Hartman – Mats Zuccarello

Brandon Duhaime – Joel Eriksson-Ek – Matt Boldy

Jordan Greenway – Sam Steel – Frederick Gaudreau

Mason Shaw – Connor Dewar – Ryan Reaves

Defense:

Jacob Middleton – Jared Spurgeon

Jonas Brodin – Matt Dumba

Alex Goligoski – Jon Merrill

Goalies:

Marc-Andre Fleury

Special Teams

Colorado Avalanche Power Play: 23.5%, 9th in NHL

Colorado Avalanche Penalty Kill: 77.3%, 20th in NHL

Minnesota Wild Power Play: 23.5%, 9th in NHL

Minnesota Wild Penalty Kill: 81%, 10th in NHL

How to Watch

TV: TNT

Radio: 950 AM

Game Time: 7:30 PM MST