Pregame analysis and predictions of the Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche NHL game to be played on January 20, 2025 on ESPN.

And still, Nashville Predators coach Andrew Brunette admitted seeing some long faces at the team’s practice last Tuesday, with a few Predators and two of their coaches upset over the previous night’s Vikings’ loss in the playoffs.

Nashville (15-22-7, 37 points) beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 on Thursday, clinching the win with a 3-for-3 shootout performance from Gustav Nyquist, Ryan O'Reilly, and Steven Stamkos. It was the Predators' first appearance in a shootout this season.

With veteran defensemen Brock Faber, Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon all missing with various ailments and newcomer David Jiricek making his Wild debut, the back end was sure to be at least part

BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Wild head into a matchup with the Colorado Avalanche as winners of four games in a row. Minnesota has gone 26-11-4 overall with a 9-4-2 record in Central Division games. The Wild have a +16 scoring differential, with 125 total goals scored and 109 allowed.

Six penalties doomed No. 18 Colorado College as visiting Minnesota Duluth earned a 4-1 win and a series split at Ed Robson Arena on Saturday night.

Goaltender Klayton Knapp rebounded after getting pulled from the NCHC series opener on Friday and Max Plante extended his scoring streak to lead UMD to victory over the Tigers.

First Period_1, Colorado, O'Connor 5 (Manson), 3:46. 2, Colorado, Colton 13, 16:52. 3, Minnesota, Bogosian 4 (Gaudreau, Trenin), 18:27. Second Period_4, Colorado ...

The New York Rangers draft pick earned his first-career hat trick as No. 18 Colorado College hockey trounced visiting Minnesota Duluth 7-2 on Friday night as snow and arctic chills arrived in downtown Colorado Springs. The win snaps a five-game skid for the Tigers.

Colorado College raced away from Minnesota Duluth with four goals in the second period, chasing UMD's starting goaltender from the crease.

Noah Laba got the scoring started for the Tigers, he lit the lamp again in the second period, and once more in the third to record his first career hat trick! Colorado College got out to a 5-0 lead on Friday night and never looked back in the 7-2 victory. They play UMD again Saturday at 6pm.

Kaprizov has missed the past 10 games with a lower-body injury that has required lots of treatments and pushed-back timetables.