The Colorado Avalanche return home after a 22-day hiatus and one victory already under their belt. On Thursday, they will take on the Minnesota Wild in a Central Division rivalry night. Minnesota sits only seven points behind the Avs in the division, so every point will be important from this point forward. This game could mean so much more because it will have three Canadians facing off against three Americans on the Wild. Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Devon Toews will all be looking for revenge with fresh wounds from the loss on Sunday to Team USA.

Colorado Avalanche (38–9–9, 85 pts)

The Avalanche had their first game after the Olympic break; it could not have gone any better. Colorado wrapped up its season series against the Utah Mammoth and knew Wednesday should have been a tight game. After all, only one goal had won every game this season. Parker Kelly continued right where he left off by taking the puck through multiple defenders to get the Avs going. Victor Olofsson scored his first goal on the road this season, and Brock Nelson almost scored two (one was reversed). Colorado also took some lessons from their Olympic team on the power play and converted right away with a Martin Necas goal. We can probably expect Nathan MacKinnon to be back in the lineup today. He missed Wednesday because of maintenance.

Projected Lines

Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton – Jack Drury – Victor Olofsson
Joel Kiviranta – Parker Kelly – Gavin Brindley

Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski

Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Minnesota Wild (34–14–10, 78 pts)

The Minnesota Wild have not played a game together in 22 days. Although three Americans won Gold on Sunday at the Olympics. Matt Boldy, who had a hat trick in the Wild’s last game against the Nashville Predators, was the one to get Team USA started in the first. He will be someone that the Avs will definitely have to monitor for the entire game. It will be interesting to see how fast the Wild will get their game going against the Avs, who already have a game under their belt.

Projected Lines

Kirill Kaprizov – Ryan Hartman – Mats Zuccarello
Marcus Johansson – Joel Eriksson Ek – Matt Boldy
Yakov Trenin– Danila Yurov – Vladimir Tarasenko
Vinnie Hinostroza – Nico Sturm – Tyler Pitlick

Quinn Hughes – Brock Faber
Jacob Middleton – Jared Spurgeon
Daemon Hunt – Daemon Hunt

Filip Gustavsson
Jesper Wallstedt

Game Details

Time: 7:00 p.m. MT

Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, KUSA, KTVD (My20), FDSNWI, FDSNNO, ESPN+ (Out of Market Only)

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM/AM 950