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Wild visit struggling Avalanche

Mar 12, 2009 - 4:43 AM Minnesota (32-28-6) at Colorado (29-37-1), 9:00 p.m. EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- Trying to remain relevant in postseason conversation, the Minnesota Wild visit the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.

The Wild enter play tied for ninth in the crowded Western Conference, which has six teams between seventh and 12th place separated by just three points.

Minnesota is mired in a 2-4-1 stretch, but the team showed signs of life on Tuesday when it rallied from a 3-0 deficit to earn a point against the San Jose Sharks.

The Wild could receive another boost in the days ahead as Marian Gaborik is scheduled to join the team. The talented right wing has missed all but six games this season because of groin and hip problems.

"He's coming to Colorado," Wild coach Jacques Lemaire told the Star Tribune on Tuesday. "That's what he told me. ... I don't know when he's going to play, when he's going to practice. He's just coming on the trip to Colorado. After that? I don't know."

Gaborik, who turned down a long-term contract offer from Minnesota this offseason, registered career highs in goals (42), assists (41) and points (83) last campaign to lead the team to its first division title.

Colorado, last in the Western Conference, has lost seven of eight and comes in off a 3-0 loss to Atlanta on Tuesday.