"With the Wild coming into town, it's a big division game," said Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar. "We are right there with them, so it's a big two points here tomorrow."
After the contest against Minnesota, the Avalanche will start its league-mandated bye week on Sunday but the team can't start thinking about its time off just yet.
"We want to keep this thing going, and we want to keep playing," said Gabriel Landeskog. "I feel like we are hitting that rhythm here and getting our groove going here, but I think we will take care of business tomorrow. Then, move on and recharge and get ready for another push before the All-Star Break at the end of January."
Colorado is currently in a stretch where it is playing every other day, hosting six games in 11 days. Between the bye week and the All-Star Break the Avalanche will play seven contests in 13 days.
However, the Avs will have to face their division foes before their time away from the rink, and Bednar says he wants his team to be energized by the matchup.
"I think we want the passion and the emotion in the game. For us, I think it's a good thing," said Bednar. "It's one of those measuring stick games. They are back to full strength here, we are a little bit beat up now, but it's a game on home ice and we have a chance to keep this thing going and go into the bye week on a high note. It's big, and I don't want to take that away from our players. I think the emotion and the passion that we can come to play with tomorrow should be able to help us."
Colorado has suffered four injuries in its last six games with forwards Sven Andrighetto (lower body) and J.T. Compher (upper body) and goaltender Semyon Varlamov (lower body) all listed as day-to-day. Defenseman Tyson Barrie is out 4-to-6 weeks after suffering a hand injury on Dec. 23 at the Arizona Coyotes.
Compher has missed the Avs' last three contests but took the ice prior to the team's optional practice at Family Sports Center on Friday in a red, non-contact jersey. It was the first time that he had been on the ice since getting hurt in Colorado's 4-3 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The rookie finished that game and even scored the game-winning goal, the first overtime tally of his career, to help the Avalanche win at Pepsi Center. So far this season, Colorado is 14-7-1 on home ice.
"I think it was a goal of ours to be a good team on home ice this year and we have done that for the most part," Bednar said. "It has been enjoyable and we got to keep our focus and make sure we are going to continue to do the right things and not get comfortable or satisfied just because the season is going well. We are only halfway through and there is a lot of work to be done here yet in order to get to where we want to go."
The young Avalanche squad will look to use the home ice to its advantage in what is one of the most pivotal contests of the season so far in the Central Division matchup.
"I think every game is big. Obviously, Minnesota is Minnesota, but other than that, it is [Milan Hejduk] night," said Landeskog. "We want to make sure that it's a good night for everybody at the Pepsi Center and that's with a win."
Colorado will be retiring former Avalanche forward Hejduk's No. 23 jersey prior to puck drop. Doors will open at 4:30 and fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 5:45 p.m. for the start of the ceremony.
