Avalanche-Wild Preview

(AP) -- The Colorado Avalanche haven't been happy with their defensive play recently, especially the breakdowns while short-handed. They were just as frustrated at the end of their last game against the Minnesota Wild.

The slumping Avalanche visit Minnesota on Friday in the opener of a home-and-home series against the Wild.

Colorado (14-7-4) had one of the NHL's stingiest defenses in October when the Northwest Division leaders went 10-1-2 to start the month while giving up an average of 2.2 goals. In recent weeks, though, the Avalanche have struggled to limit opponents, losing six of eight (2-4-2) while allowing 4.8 goals per game. (MORE)

Avalanche Headlines

Final	1	2	3	OT	Tot
Nashville	2	1	0	1	4
Colorado	0	3	0	0	3

Preview | Box | On the Ice | Recap

Final Boxscore

Three Stars
1:	David Legwand, Nsh (1G)
2:	Milan Hejduk, Col (1G, 1A)
3:	Shea Weber, Nsh (1G, 1A)

Standings
Northwest Division
	W	L	OTL	Pts
Colorado	14	7	4	32
Calgary	14	6	3	31
Vancouver	13	11	0	26
Edmonton	10	12	3	23
Minnesota	8	12	3	19

Leaders
Points:	P. Stastny	23
Plus/Minus:	R. O'Reilly	12
Shots on Goal:	M. Hejduk	66
PIM:	C. McLeod	47
Win:	C. Anderson	13
Shutouts:	C. Anderson	2

Offense (Rank)
Goals:	75 (4)
Shots:	644 (25)
PP%:	18.4% (22)
Penalty Minutes:	334 (16)
Assists:	134 (4)
SH Goals:	3 (7)

Defense (Rank)
Goals Against:	72 (7)
Shots Against:	816 (3)
PK%:	80.0% (15)
Penalty Minutes:	361 (4)
Shutouts:	2 (7)
Sv%:	0.912 (10)

Next 5
Date	Opp	Previous
11/27	@ Min	L 2-3 10/21
11/28	vs. Min	L 2-3 10/21
11/30	@ TB	-
12/2	@ Fla	-
12/3	@ Pit	-
Full Schedule

Last 10
Date	Opp	Final
11/25	vs. Nsh	L 3-4
11/23	vs. Phi	W 5-4
11/20	@ Van	L 2-5
11/18	@ Edm	L 4-6
11/17	@ Cgy	W 3-2
11/14	vs. Van	L 2-8
11/11	@ Chi	L 2-3
11/8	vs. Edm	L 3-5
11/6	vs. Chi	W 4-3
11/4	vs. Pho	W 4-1

Injuries
Date	Player	Status
11/18/2009	A. Foote	Jaw (day-to-day)
11/15/2009	M. Hendricks	Groin (IR)
10/9/2009	R. Salei	Back (IR)
10/1/2009	B. Yip	Undisclosed injury (IR)

Transactions
Date	Player	Transactions
11/20/2009	C. Durno	Sent to minors Lake Erie-AHL
11/17/2009	C. Durno	Called up from minors from Lake Erie-AHL
11/13/2009	P. Dupuis	Sent to minors Lake Erie-AHL
11/9/2009	T. Preissing	Called up from minors from Lake Erie-AHL conditioning stint
11/7/2009	C. Durno	Sent to minors Lake Erie-AHL
11/5/2009	B. Willsie	Sent to minors Lake Erie-AHL
11/5/2009	T. Preissing	Sent to minors Lake Erie-AHL for conditioning stint
11/3/2009	B. Willsie	Called up from minors from Lake Erie-AHL
11/2/2009	B. Willsie	Sent to minors Lake Erie-AHL
10/30/2009	P. Dupuis	Called up from minors from Lake Erie-AHL

	Colorado Avalanche (14-7-4)