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After consecutive losses, Wild look to get back on track in Colorado

Oct 28, 2007 - 1:52 PM Minnesota (7-1-2) at Colorado (6-4-0) 3:00 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) - After suffering back-to-back losses for the first time this season, the Minnesota Wild will try to get back on track against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

The Wild started the 2007-08 campaign with wins in seven of their first eight games. However, Minnesota has stumbled in its last two contests, suffering its first regulation loss to the Calgary Flames on Wednesday before losing in a shootout to the Edmonton Oilers the next night.

The Wild surrendered five goals in each of the losses after not allowing more than three in any other game. Minnesota ranks second in the NHL in goals-against average, giving up fewer than two tallies a game.

Minnesota will need to turn in a strong defensive performance against an Avalanche team that will likely be seeking revenge after suffering a 3-2 loss to the Wild last Sunday.

Following the loss, Colorado has won its last two games against the same two teams that defeated the Wild this week.

Scoring first will be paramount for Minnesota as Colorado is a perfect 5-0 when it notches the first tally but just 1-4 when allowing opponents to get on the scoreboard first.

The Wild will be without top goaltender Niklas Backstrom, who suffered a groin injury in practice on Saturday. The Finnish netminder is 5-1-1 this season with a 1.98 goals against average.

Josh Harding will take Backstrom's spot. The 23-year-old is 2-0-1 with a 1.62 GAA in three starts this season.