Stars at Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche have recovered from a slump at the beginning of November and are rolling again as they prepare to host the Central Division-rival Dallas Stars for the first time this season on Saturday. The Avalanche, who lost five in a row from Oct. 27-Nov. 9 to spoil a hot start to the season, have earned at least one point in six straight contests (5-0-1) after posting a convincing 5-1 home victory over Arizona on Friday.
J.T. Compher’s two short-handed goals on the same penalty sparked Colorado’s win over the Coyotes while the top line of captain Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen totaled six points to push their impressive season total to 94 in 22 games. The Avalanche won three of the five meetings last season and may need another big offensive effort against the Stars, who rebounded from a pair of substandard performances to record a 6-4 home victory over Ottawa on Friday. Dallas scored once in each of its previous two games before exploding for six tallies to tie a season high as captain Jamie Benn snapped his seven-game goal-scoring drought with his eighth of the season. Tyler Seguin leads the Stars with 22 points, including five in the last four games after notching an assist in the win over the Senators.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Southwest Plus (Dallas), Altitude (Colorado)
ABOUT THE STARS (12-9-2): Ben Bishop (lower body) is sidelined and five of the top eight defensemen on the roster did not play Friday due to injury and illness, but Dallas received four goals from the blue line to beat the Senators. Rookie Miro Heiskanen doubled his goal total with two against Ottawa while fellow defensemen Taylor Fedun (first of the season) and Gavin Bayreuther (first of his career) also scored. Julius Honka (illness) is the blue-liner most likely the closest to returning while John Klingberg (hand), who has registered 13 points, is the most costly loss.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (12-6-4): Rantanen notched the 100th assist of his career and scored a goal against Arizona while MacKinnon set of a pair of tallies as both have notched seven points over the last three contests. Landeskog tied MacKinnon for the team lead with his 14th goal on Friday and defenseman Tyson Barrie scored to extend his point streak to seven games (three goals, six assists). Colorado’s power play is red-hot, converting 10 of its last 18 opportunities over six games after getting one goal from Landeskog in the third period against the Senators.
OVERTIME
1. Dallas C Devin Shore (lower body) returned Friday after missing four games and recorded a pair of assists.
2. Colorado D Erik Johnson needs two assists to reach 200 for his career but has not registered one in 11 games.
3. Stars rookie LW Roope Hintz has notched two goals and an assist in his last four contests after being blanked in the first four career games.