As we all know the Avalanche currently have a tenuous grasp on the last wild card spot in the West. Although they are 4 points up, the Wild have two games in hand-and we’ve all seen how the Wild are capable of finishing a season.
And the first opponent the Avs face after the outdoor game? The Minnesota Wild at the Excel Center, and the Avs in the past have not fared well in general against the Wild, especially as the visiting team.
So while the outdoor game is for sure going to be an awesome experience for players and fans alike in terms of purity of sport and all that, it also will largely frame the next contest against the Wild.