The Colorado Avalanche head to Dallas to take on the Stars on Saturday in what could be a late-round playoff preview. This is also the last time the two will meet in the regular season. Colorado is coming off an embarrassing loss and will look to recover against the Stars who will skate with confidence after their win. This will also be the first time that the Avalanche have faced their former teammate Mikko Rantanen, who has been out with injuries, since October 11.

Colorado Avalanche (49–15–10, 108 pts)

The Avalanche played one of their most embarrassing games on Wednesday night against the last-place Vancouver Canucks. Colorado gave up eight goals, with a hat trick scored by Brock Boeser. Mackenzie Blackwood was chased out of the net after giving up six goals 35 minutes into the game. Scott Wedgewood would hold the Canucks to one more, but the greater question is now: will Jared Bednar turn to Wedgewood as the starter? There were bright spots in the game, though. Nathan MacKinnon scored his 50th goal of the season for the second time in his career. Sam Malinski, who will have to step up in Cale Makar’s absence, had his first career multi-goal game.

Projected Lines

Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Gabriel Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin
Ross Colton – Nazem Kadri – Logan O’Connor
Parker Kelly  – Jack Drury – Joel Kiviranta

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

Scott Wedgewood
Mackenzie Blackwood

Dallas Stars (45–19–12, 102 pts)

The Stars won in a 3–0 shutout on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets at home. The win draws Dallas within six points of Colorado, but the Avalanche have two games in hand. Mikko Rantanen’s return to the lineup has certainly helped things for the Stars. He has four points in four games (1g/3a). Former Avalanche Matt Duchene has two goals in the last two games, getting the Stars going with a power play goal on Thursday night. After the Avs helped break their 10-game win streak on March 6th, Dallas has struggled a bit. They have gone 3–5–2 in their last 10 and are trying desperately to catch the Avs.

Projected Lines

Jason Robertson – Wyatt Johnston – Mikko Rantanen
Jamie Benn – Matt Duchene – Colin Blackwell
Oskar Back – Justin Hryckowian – Mavrik Bourque
Adam Erne – Arttu Hyry – Kyle Capobianco

Esa Lindell – Miro Heiskanen
Thomas Harley – Nils Lundkvist
Lian Bichsel – Ilya Lyubushkin

Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith

Game Details

Time: 1:00 p.m. MT

Watch: ABC

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM, AM 950