The first impression the Wild made on the Avalanche wasn’t the team that’s top-five in the NHL and leading Colorado in the Central Division. That’s because that version wasn’t playing. After admirably overcoming injuries the last week-plus to win four in a row,

The Colorado Avalanche finish their first back-to-back series of the new year 1-1-0. After a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, they came ready to play against the Minnesota Wild, who currently sit at 4th in the league and 2nd in the western conference.

Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Logan O'Connor each had a goal and an assist as the Colorado Avalanche cruised to a 6-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night in Saint Paul, Minn.

The Wild will be without defensemen Jonas Brodin, Brock Faber, and Jared Spurgeon tonight. Arguably their three best defensemen. That be said, it will be a chance for David Jiricek to make his Wild debut.