National Hockey League
Preview
Colorado at Minnesota
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota

If the Minnesota Wild want a strong finish to the regular season, they need to find a way to have a strong finish near the net.

That's the message from Wild veteran forward Marcus Foligno. He and his teammates will try to snap a two-game skid when they take on the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night in Saint Paul, Minn.

"We've just got to put the puck in the back of the net," Foligno said. "(Our) work ethic is there, and chances are there. We've just got to do a better job of putting it in."

Minnesota hopes to shake off a cold streak at the most important time of the regular season. The Wild have lost five of their past seven games and are coming off a 3-1 defeat at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.

Three times in their last four games, the Wild have scored only one goal.

"This is the crucial time of year," Foligno said. "We're getting down to where there's 18 games left, and we need some wins fast. You don't want this thing getting out of hand. ...

"I'd be lying to you if (I said) we're not thinking about it. We know we need some wins here to separate ourselves. So we've just got to think about defensive hockey if we're fighting to score right now."

The Wild hope to take advantage of a weary Avalanche team that is coming off a 3-0 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night. Artturi Lehkonen, Martin Necas and Joel Kiviranta each scored for the Avalanche before they boarded a late-night flight for Minnesota.

Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon will return to the ice for a quick turnaround after making history on Monday. He notched his 1,000th career point, becoming the 100th player in NHL history to achieve the milestone.

"It's cool," he said. "It's fun to accomplish something with friends and teammates."

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said he wasn't surprised that MacKinnon downplayed the milestone.

"I think when it's all said and done for him, he'll remember these milestones and appreciate it more than he does now because (right now) he's so focused by the moment," Bednar said. "It's not a big deal to him now, but when it's all done and he gets a little older and starts looking back on his career, and other people look back on his career, they're going to be big moments."

Mackenzie Blackwood likely will start in net for Colorado one night after Scott Wedgewood posted a shutout against Chicago. Blackwood is 18-7-2 with a 2.22 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in 27 games for the Avalanche this season.

The Wild likely will counter with Filip Gustavsson in net. He is 24-14-3 with a 2.60 GAA and a .914 save percentage for the season.

Matt Boldy is the Wild's leading scorer with 54 points (21 goals, 33 assists) in 64 games.

MacKinnon leads Colorado with a league-high 102 points (27 goals, 75 assists) in 65 games. Cale Makar also is averaging more than a point per game with 75 points (24, 51) in 65 contests.

--Field Level Media

Stats and Records
Team Comparison
  W/L Strk Home Away Day Night Div
Colorado 39-24-1-1 W6 22-10-1-1 17-14-0-0 6-4-0-1 33-20-1-0 10-10-1-0
Minnesota 36-24-2-2 L2 14-14-0-1 22-10-2-1 6-5-1-1 30-19-1-1 11-9-2-0
Last Meeting
Colorado Minnesota
Date Away Home Shots Saves PP Shots Saves PP
2/28/25 MIN 2 COL 5 30 18 2-3 20 25 1-3
Player Stats
Previous Matchup
Total Points Player  
Colorado R. Colton 3
Minnesota B. Faber 1
Goals Player  
Colorado R. Colton 2
Minnesota V. Hinostroza 1
Assists Player  
Colorado O. Kylington 2
Minnesota B. Faber 1
Saves Player  
Colorado M. Blackwood 18
Minnesota F. Gustavsson 25
Season
Total Points Player  
Colorado N. MacKinnon 104
Minnesota K. Kaprizov 58
Goals Player  
Colorado A. Lehkonen 27
Minnesota K. Kaprizov 26
Assists Player  
Colorado N. MacKinnon 77
Minnesota M. Rossi 34
Saves Player  
Colorado M. Blackwood 645
Minnesota F. Gustavsson 1193
Quickchart Matchup
Colorado Off vs  Minnesota Def
3.35 GF
2.86 GA
29.5 Shots
29.7 Shots
45 PP
49 PK
Minnesota Off vs  Colorado Def
2.77 GF
2.91 GA
27.6 Shots
26.3 Shots
33 PP
34 PK