GAMEDAY: Wild vs. Avalanche

Thursday, 03.14.2013 / 7:25 PM

Minnesota Wild (13-10-2: 28 points, 8th in Western Conference, 2nd in Northwest Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (10-11-4: 24 points, 15th in Western Conference, 5th in Northwest Division)

The Wild closes out a three-game home stand tonight against the Colorado Avalanche tonight at Xcel Energy Center. The game is the first of a home-and-home series against the Avs, as the Wild heads to Colorado on Saturday. Tonight’s contest marks the third time these two teams have met at Xcel Energy Center. The first was a 4-2 Wild win on opening night Jan. 19 and the second a 4-3 shootout win for Colorado on Valentine’s Day.

Yesterday, Minnesota signed defenseman Brett Clark to a one-year contract. The veteran brings 681 NHL games of experience to the Wild blue line. He participated in the team’s morning skate but will not play tonight against the Avs.

Expected to play tonight against the Avs is forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard. The forward will be slotted on the wing with Matt Cullen and Devin Setoguchi. Bourchard will be in for Jason Zucker, who took an illegal hit from Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Perry received a four-game suspension for the hit. Zucker didn’t participate in the team’s morning skate.

The Wild will look to keep things rolling on the special teams tonight against Colorado. Minnesota has scored a power-play goal in five straight games and has scored a power-play goal in seven of its last eight games, going 7-for-33 (21.2%) during the stretch. The Wild’s penalty kill has not allowed a goal in nine of its last 11 games, killing 28-of-30 (93.3%) chances during the period. Minnesota’s home-ice PK (89.6%) ranks third in the NHL, while its overall penalty kills ranks fourth in the league (87.0%).

Minnesota was edged by the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, 2-1. The Wild posted 31 shots on net, but Devin Setoguchi scored the team’s lone goal on a first-period power play. Assists on the tally went to Matt Cullen and Tom Gilbert. Niklas Backstrom made 19 saves in the loss.

The Avs suffered a 4-0 shutout loss against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Semyon Varlamov made 27 saves in the loss.

BREAKING: NHL Board approves changes, including divisional structure and playoff format.

The Avalanche has struggled on the road this season, going 2-8-3 in games away from Pepsi Center.

Colorado is led offensively by 22-year-old center Matt Duchene and free-agent pickup PA Parenteau. Duchene leads the Avs with 26 points (11-15=26) and Parenteau is right behind with 25 (10-15=25).

Today the Wild celebrates one of the greatest snack foods in the history of mankind. It’s National Potato Chip Day and all lucky fans in attendance will receive a chip clip presented by Barrel O’ Fun.

The Wild will wear its RED sweaters tonight.

Matt Cullen has six assists in his last seven games and is fourth on the Wild with 15 points (3-12=15) this year.

Fans can guess who's going to be hot with the Wild's HotBox Fantasy Challenge presented by the Pioneer Press for a chance to win great prizes.

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Bouchard will return to the lineup for the first time in three games:

Parise – Koivu – Coyle
Bouchard – Cullen – Setoguchi
Heatley – Brodziak – Clutterbuck
Mitchell – Konopka – Rupp

D-pairs will remain the same as Tuesday:

Suter – Brodin
Spurgeon – Stoner
Falk – Gilbert

Niklas Backstrom is 21-5-3 with a 2.18 GAA, a .927 SV% and four shutouts in 29 starts against Colorado.

It’s almost like we’re in a beer league right now. We just show up and play games.

- Yeo on the team’s inability to practice because of the compacted schedule.

Newly inked defenseman Brett Clark and Nate Prosser will be tonight's healthy scratches.

Zucker is out with an upper body injury.

Goaltender Josh Harding (treatment for multiple sclerosis) is on Injured Reserve.

D Erik Johnson hails from Bloomington, Minn. and played at the University of Minnesota. RW Chuck Kobasew skated in 125 games with Minnesota (2009-11), while D Greg Zanon played for the Wild for most of three seasons (2009-12), totaling 202 games.

Minnesota has scored the opening goal in five straight games, its longest stretch of the season. The Wild is 8-4-0 when scoring first this year.

Wild vs. Colorado will be broadcast locally in high definition on FOX Sports North with a start time at 7:00 p.m. The game can be heard on KFAN 100.3 FM or online at Wild.com.

Click here to receive Minnesota Wild broadcast alerts/game day previews each Wild Game day.

Wild.com Prospects Report - March 13 \| Wild Signs Defenseman Clark \| Five Takeaways vs ANA \| Realignment Approved \| Wild Acquires Conditional Pick
WildTV Yeo - March 13 \| Zucker - March 13
PONDcast Wild Signs Clark \| Zucker Injury Update \| Wild Weekly
Photo Gallery Wild vs ANA - March 12 \|

32	SHOTS	40
37	FACEOFFS	24
15	HITS	17
20	PIM	16
1/2	PP	0/4
0	GIVEAWAYS	6
7	TAKEAWAYS	4
20	BLOCKED SHOTS	14