• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Wild deal with injury to Koivu, try to end losing stretch

Nov 18, 2007 - 2:10 PM Colorado (11-6-1) at Minnesota (10-7-2) 6:00 pm EST

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Wild look to end their recent losing ways when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

Since starting the season 7-0-1, Minnesota has lost eight of 11, including five straight at one point. With the Wild in midst of a stretch where they have lost three of four, the last thing they needed was to lose a key piece to their offense, which is exactly what happened on Friday.

In the a 6-2 setback against Vancouver two days ago, center Mikko Koivu left the game after he was the victim a two-handed slash by Canucks defenseman Mattias Ohlund across the back of the left leg with 3:54 left in the second period. He is not expected back for this game.

Minnesota, which is already without left wing Pavol Demitra because of a groin injury, can ill-afford an extended absence from its second-leading scorer.

On the other hand, the Avalanche are on a 7-2-1 run, even after suffering a 6-1 loss to the Dallas Stars to open a four-game road trip on Friday.

Goaltender Jose Theodore, who was 3-0-1 with a 1.96 goals-against average in his previous four starts, allowed five goals on 10 shots.