Eurolanche

Wild, Avs aim to extend win streaks

Season series: The Minnesota Wild rallied to score four third-period goals in a 5-4 win against the Colorado Avalanche on at the Pepsi Center on Oct. 8. Forward Zach Parise scored three goals for this third career hat trick. Defenseman Francois Beauchemin had three assists to lead the Avalanche.

Avalanche team scope: Colorado will wrap up a four-game road trip in search of its third consecutive victory. "It's good to win on the road. Our road record is pretty good. We've been playing some good games, and I'm very happy [with] the way we've been playing since the Washington game [on Nov. 21]," coach Patrick Roy told the Wild website. "I really feel that we're playing some good hockey." The Avalanche are 4-2-0 since losing to the Washington Capitals, with four of those games on the road. Following three straight games against Eastern Conference opponents, the Avalanche will play five of their next six against Central Division foes, including a home-and-home against the Wild that will conclude Monday in Denver.

Wild team scope: Goalie Devan Dubnyk is expected to start, though with his wife due to give birth that plan is subject to change. Minnesota has won two straight low-scoring games, but could face a different tempo against the Avalanche, who are sixth in the NHL in goals scored. Colorado has also allowed the fifth-most goals to its opponents. Coach Mike Yeo said the Wild are trying to build toward being able to win games in different ways each night. "We want to win games scoring five or six goals per night," Yeo said. "But we have to be able to win games 1-0 or 2-1, whatever the case is. A lot of those nights, that's when you're generating the most and giving yourself a chance to score more goals. The better you defend, the better you play without the puck, the more you're going to have the puck."

-- by Dan Myers for NHL.com --

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