For the second time in two weeks, the Colorado Avalanche will play in a possible division decider game against the Dallas Stars. However, since that last matchup, the fate of each team has gone in a different direction.

Colorado won in a shootout in Dallas on Trade Deadline Day to extend its division lead with the comeback effort. Since then, Colorado has gone 2–3 while the Stars have gone 4–1 and are within striking distance of the Avs atop the division.

Colorado Avalanche (44–13–9, 97 pts)

The Avalanche’s poor stretch continued on Monday night with their second straight loss in a 7–2 blowout to the Pittsburgh Penguins. They’ve now lost three of their last four games and are decidedly in their worst stretch of the season.

Injuries continue wrecking the organization. Even with Gabriel Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen, and Logan O’Connor taking part in practices, none of them will be ready to go on Wednesday night. That’s with Ross Colton also not being on the ice, therefore not being close.

With the AHL-affiliate Colorado Eagles also badly hurt, Nathan MacKinnon’s wishes of moving away from 11 forwards and seven defensemen seem unlikely. He might have to lead a turnaround himself in a huge division decider.

Projected Lines

Nazem Kadri – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Nicolas Roy – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Parker Kelly – Jack Drury – Joel Kiviranta
Gavin Brindley – Zakhar Bardakov

Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski
Nick Blankenburg

Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dallas Stars (42–15–10, 94 pts)

Despite Dallas’ recent streak, Colorado got lucky with them dropping Monday’s game against the Utah Mammoth 6–3. It snapped a four-game winning streak for the Stars.

Aside from the loss to Colorado back on March 6, Dallas has been nearly unstoppable. Dating back to January, they’ve won 15 of their last 18 games. Their loss to Utah was the first in regulation since January 22 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Therefore, the hottest team in the league now is threatening the best team in the league all season. They’ve done most of this without Tyler Seguin, Roope Hintz, or Mikko Rantanen. A win on the road against their bitter rivals would propel them even further in this division decider.

Projected Lines

Jason Robertson – Wyatt Johnston – Mavrik Bourque
Sam Steel – Matt Duchene – Jamie Benn
Michael Bunting – Justin Hryckowian – Colin Blackwell
Oskar Back – Arttu Hyry – Adam Erne

Esa Lindell – Miro Heiskanen
Thomas Harley – Nils Lundkvist
Lian Bischel – Tyler Myers

Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith

Game Details

Time: 7:30 p.m. MT

Watch: TNT, HBO Max

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM/AM 950