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Big Central Division Matinee in Denver

January 17, 2022, 12:05 PM ET [1 Comments]
Dan Wallace
Minnesota Wild Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Wild head to Colorado to face the red hot Avalanche who are 13-1-2 over their last 16 games and sitting atop the Western Conference and Central Division standings.

Denver has been a very tough place for the the Wild of late and the Avalanche have gotten the best of the Wild regardless of where the team's have played in recent years. The first meeting this season was a 4-1 Avalanche victory back in October in one of the few games where the Wild were soundly outplayed by their opponent all season.

It will once again be a tough task for the Wild without five regulars today but they will get Alex Goligoski back. Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin not in the lineup today will be the hardest to replace against the strong speedy Avalanche.

Matt Boldy has looked very good in his first three NHL contests and has provided a spark to Kevin Fiala giving the Wild much more dangerous second line. The Victor Rask haters are always out, but you really can't argue the guy contributes when he is called upon and is far better than he is given credit for. He will once again skate between Jordan Greenway and Marcus Foligno.

The new look fourth line with Connor Dewar in for the injured Nick Bjugstad is playing inspired hockey and Dewars speed and aggressive play has Evason and his staff feeling much more comfortable every time they go over the boards.

Kaapo Kahkonen is playing at the top of his game and today will be a real test for the young netminder heading into Ball Arena to face the best in the West. The one good thing for the Wild is they do catch the Avs on the third game in four days so they could have some tired legs possibly. The previous two games were hoke and home with Arizona and the game Saturday was a 5-0 Avalanche route of the Coyotes so the tired legs may not really be a factor, that we will have to wait and see.

Good test for the Wild and for Evason and Co. as the Wild continue their maturation process.

It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!
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