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.

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

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.

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 ... 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 ...

(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.

The Colorado Avalanche may soon face a defining decision on star Mikko Rantanen with the forward playing the final year of his contract with the Avs. According to TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie ...