Head coach John Hynes said Monday that Middleton's (hand) return to game action is "imminent," Jessi Pierce of NHL.com reports. Middleton has been on long-term injured reserve since mid-December due to a hand injury,

This was already going to be a difficult road trip for the Colorado Avalanche, with the two teams ahead of them in the Central Division standings looming. Losing to the club at the bottom of the division certainly didn’t help.

Colorado created plenty ... with the San Jose Barracuda. Jacob Middleton has been injured, but returned to the Wild lineup earlier this week.