Colorado @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 5, 2019 ) Minnesota 2, Colorado 4

The Colorado Avalanche are performing remarkably well without major pieces in their lineup as they complete a five-game road trip Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. Colorado, playing without all-star forwards Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog, has won five of its last six games - two of three without their top goaltending tandem - while other injured players keep the revolving door spinning.

“I’ve never seen that many major guys get hurt at the same time,” Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who made 31 saves in Tuesday's 3-2 victory over Calgary after missing the previous five contests (lower body), told reporters. “It’s a really hard challenge for all the healthy guys, different guys stepping up, playing different roles, and I think they’ve done a phenomenal job the last couple games. ..." At the top of that list is Colorado forward Andre Burakovsky, who has five goals in the last three contests after scoring twice Tuesday. Minnesota has alternated wins and losses in its last seven games - a positive sign following a 4-9-1 start - after a 4-1 victory at Buffalo on Tuesday. Colorado won 4-2 on Oct. 5 in the first of five meetings this season with Grubauer making 29 saves.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Altitude (Colorado), FS North (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (13-6-2): The club's forward depth is being tested with Matt Calvert and Tyson Jost out with upper-body injuries, and Colin Wilson (lower body) out for an extended period. Nikita Zadorov, who missed three contests with a broken jaw, played 21 minutes, 34 seconds Tuesday in his second game back. One constant has been 2019 Hart Trophy runner-up Nathan MacKinnon, who has four goals and five assists in the last four contests and leads the club with 13 goals and 31 points.

ABOUT THE WILD (8-11-2): Minnesota has injury issues of its own as Matt Dumba left Tuesday's game an undisclosed injury but fellow blueliner Greg Pateryn could make his season debut after recovering from sports hernia surgery. Zach Parise has scored four of his team-high eight goals in the last three contests after recording two against Buffalo. Eric Staal (six goals, team-high 15 points) had an assist Tuesday for his first point in five games.

OVERTIME

1. Burakovsky has 10 goals in his first season with Colorado after scoring 12 in each of the previous three campaigns with Washington.

2. The Wild are 13-for-13 on the penalty kill in their last five games, improving to eighth in the league entering Wednesday at 84.4 percent.

3. Avalanche D Cale Makar (five goals) has recorded five assists in the last two games and leads NHL rookies with 23 points.

PREDICTION: Avalanche 3, Wild 2