DENVER (Interstat) — The Minnesota Wild aim to even their second-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night at Ball Arena, following a scoreless opener in Game 1 on Sunday. Game 2 of the best-of-seven Western Conference matchup pits the sixth-seeded Wild (50-38-0) against the top-seeded Avalanche (59-27-0). Colorado holds home-ice advantage and has already drawn first blood in the series, though neither team found the net in the series debut. Minnesota enters the contest riding momentum from a first-round upset of the Dallas Stars, capped by a 5-2 victory on April 30. Defenseman Quinn Hughes has been a catalyst for the Wild, recording two goals and an assist in that series-clinching win. Over his last eight games, Hughes has totaled three goals, five assists and 14 shots on goal, emerging as a critical two-way presence. For Colorado, center Nathan MacKinnon continues to drive the offense. In the Avalanche’s playoff opener against Los Angeles on April 26, MacKinnon posted two goals and an assist in a 5-1 victory. He has registered 10 shots on goal in his last two games overall and remains a constant threat at even strength and on the power play. The regular-season series between the two clubs was tightly contested. Colorado took three of five meetings, including a 3-2 shootout win in Denver on March 8 and a 5-2 victory at home on Dec. 21. Minnesota’s lone regulation win came Feb. 26, a 5-2 decision in St. Paul. Ball Arena has been unkind to the Wild historically, and Tuesday’s matchup marks a critical juncture. A 2-0 series lead for the Avalanche would put Minnesota on the brink before the series shifts to St. Paul for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday. Both teams enter well-rested. Colorado swept Los Angeles in four games, while Minnesota dispatched Dallas in six. Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood stopped 24 of 25 shots in his last start, while the Wild’s goaltending tandem has been steady throughout the postseason. Faceoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. MDT.