Eurolanche

The Wild hasn't lost at home since a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Avalanche on Nov. 19, a span of six games. Minnesota led that game 2-0 and appeared poised to cruise to an easy victory before the Avs scored three goals in less than six minutes to steal the win.

Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said two days later that it was one of the most frustrating losses of his coaching career. 

Minnesota also lost 1-0 on Nov. 5 at the Pepsi Center, when Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog broke a scoreless tie with a power-play goal in the third period.

A quarter of the Wild's eight regulation losses this season have come against Colorado, which has a League-low 23 points this season. Minnesota is one of two teams in the Western Conference with fewer than 10 regulation defeats this season.

"We gave up a two-goal lead in the third period for the first time, which wasn't good. Two preseason losses, two regular season losses. They seem to play really good against us," Boudreau said. "They've got some dynamic players, and when they're all on top of their game, they're really good."

The Wild recalled Pat Cannone from Iowa of the American Hockey League on Monday and he could be poised to make his NHL debut. The call-up was the first of the 30-year-old Cannone's six-year professional career.

Cannone is expected to skate on the fourth line with Chris Stewart and Kurtis Gabriel as Tyler Graovac slots onto the third line, taking the place of the injured Erik Haula.

"It's been a bit, spent a while in the American League. It's a great opportunity and I'm really looking forward to it," Cannone said. "You hope [the opportunity arrives]. You play for that, you work hard for that. It was a long time coming."

Colorado is expected to start goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who has missed the past three games with a strained groin. It will be Varlamov's first start of the season against the Wild after Calvin Pickard started each of the first two games.

-- by Dan Myers for Wild.com --