Avalanche at Stars
THE STORY: The team with the best road record squares off against the Pacific Division leaders as the Colorado Avalanche meet the Dallas Stars on Friday. Colorado is an impressive 6-1-0 away from home this season, losing only in Calgary on Oct. 26. The Avalanche have not had much success in Dallas of late as they have dropped seven of their last 10 visits to the Lone Star State. The Stars have won seven of their last nine contests, a run that has put them atop the Pacific. Dallas has been strong on home ice, going 5-1-0 at the American Airlines Center this campaign.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Colorado), FSN Southwest (Dallas)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (7-5-0): Colorado has lost three of its last four games, including a 4-1 setback to Phoenix at home on Wednesday. Peter Mueller is trying to make his way back to the lineup as he has skated on his own the last two days. Mueller missed the entire 2010-11 campaign with a concussion and played in the Avalanche's first three games this season before suffering another head injury. In an effort to generate more offense, coach Joe Sacco is moving Matt Duchene to a line with Paul Stastny and Milan Hejduk for Friday's contest.
ABOUT THE STARS (8-3-0): Dallas is back in action after a five-day layoff that followed a 3-1 home triumph over New Jersey on Saturday. Kari Lehtonen has been outstanding for the Stars this season, going 8-1-0 with a 1.75 goals-against average in nine games. The 27-year old Finn is even better against Colorado during his career as he owns a 5-0-1 mark in eight meetings. Steve Ott is expected to miss the Stars' next two games with a hip pointer.
OVERTIME:
1. The Avalanche won five of six meetings with the Stars before dropping the last two matchups.
2. Dallas has captured seven of its last eight home games dating to last season.