Wild Warmup: Minnesota at Colorado

The essentials

The Wild Warmup is presented by Bryant Heating and Cooling
For the second time during training camp, the Wild will play an exhibition matchup against a Central Division rival on Thursday night when Minnesota travels to Denver to play the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena.
The Wild lost 6-2 in St. Louis in the preseason opener on Saturday night, a game that was tied at 2-2 as late as the early portions of the third period.
Wild coach Dean Evason hinted on Tuesday that there would be additional veterans in the lineup, or at least more than the eight that were brought to St. Louis to play the Blues, and overall, there will be some new faces in the lineup.

Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello are expected to make the trip, comprising 2/3 of the Wild's top line with Kirill Kaprizov, who will not play.
Jordan Greenway, who did play in St. Louis, will also make the trek to Denver, but he will skate with his normal linemates, Marcus Foligno and Ryan Hartman.
Matt Boldy, who also played in St. Louis, could see time on a line next to Freddy Gaudreau and Kevin Fiala in what could be a big opportunity to show what he can do on that grouping.
Roster hopefuls Brandon Duhaime, Connor Dewar and Kyle Rau will also play, as will Mason Shaw.

On defense for Minnesota, Jon Merrill, Dmitry Kulikov, Joe Hicketts and Jon Lizotte will each make their debuts in Wild sweaters. Dakota Mermis and Calen Addison, who played against the Blues will make the trip.
Goaltender Cam Talbot will start for Minnesota and play about half the game, while Andrew Hammond will serve as the backup and play the second half.
Colorado coach Jared Bednar did not reveal the lineup that will take the ice for the Avs on Thursday, but hinted that rookie forward Alex Newhook as well as fellow rookie and former Golden Gopher Sampo Ranta could play.
The game is being
streamed on YouTube
and can be heard on KFAN FM 100.3 in the Twin Cities or along the Wild Radio Network. The radio feed can also be streamed by
clicking here
.