The Wild did a lot of roster manipulation to get David Jiricek onto the roster for his NHL debut. The right-shot former Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman was by far the Wild’s best and somehow wasn’t on for a goal against in 16 minutes.

ST PAUL, Minn. — Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and his NHL-leading 53rd assist of the season to help the Colorado Avalanche rout the Minnesota Wild 6-1 on Thursday night. Mikko Rantanan and Logan O’Connor also each had a goal and an assist, Ross Colton, Parker Kelly and Artturi Lehkonen also scored, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 24 saves.

Logan O’Connor put the Avs on the board first with his fifth of the season at 3:46 of the opening period. Josh Manson caught the Wild in the middle of a line change and turned a Minnesota clearing attempt into a pass to O’Connor behind the defense.

Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Logan O'Connor each had a goal and an assist as the Colorado Avalanche cruised to a 6-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night in Saint Paul, Minn.

Mikko Rantanan and Logan O ... for the second straight game for the Wild. Filip Gustavsson stopped 21 of 27 shots. Leading 2-1 in the second period, MacKinnon fed a pass into the slot on a 2-on-2 rush. Rantanen converted on a wrist shot past a screened ...

The Colorado Avalanche haven’t made much progress in contract negotiations with star goal scorer Mikko Rantanen, and there might still be a ton of work to be done. While the Avalanche don’t ...

Let’s say, eight years at $101 million. Everybody gets what they want. Mikko Rantanen, the good solider and Nathan MacKinnon’s literal right-hand man, becomes a $100-million player.

Mikko Rantanan ... game for the Wild. Filip Gustavsson stopped 21 of 27 shots. Leading 2-1 in the second period, MacKinnon fed a pass into the slot on a 2-on-2 rush. Rantanen converted on a ...

January 10 - Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Logan O'Connor ... Minnesota goaltender Filip Gustavsson gave up six goals on 27 shots. O'Connor started the scoring 3:46 after the opening ...

(AP Photo/Matt Krohn) Shortly after that, Nathan MacKinnon left a drop pass for Mikko Rantanen ... and he had the puck behind Filip Gustavsson before the goalie could react at 16:52.

It has been two months since we did a Wild mailbag and several months since we did an ‘Ask Russo and Smith’ mailbag, but with Joe back on the clock, there’s no better time to answer many of your questions.

The Wild held two separate leads before falling to Connor McDavid and the Oilers, losing Marcus Johansson along the way.