Colorado Avalanche (49-15-10) @ Dallas Stars (45-19-12)
1 p.m. MT | American Airlines Center | Watch: ABC, ESPN App | Listen: Altitude Sports Radio (92.5 FM)
The Avalanche begins a weekend back-to-back with a road game against the Dallas Stars on Saturday. This is the fourth and final regular-season meeting between the teams in 2025-26, as the Stars won in a shootout in Denver on October 11th and March 18th, while the Avs defeated Dallas in a shootout in Texas on March 6th.
Latest Result (COL): VAN 8, COL 6
Latest Result (DAL): WPG 0, DAL 3
Defeat in Denver
The Avalanche lost to the Vancouver Canucks 8-6 at Ball Arena on Wednesday. Nathan MacKinnon became the first player in the NHL to reach the 50-goal mark this season, Sam Malinski scored twice while Gabriel Landeskog, Parker Kelly and Brent Burns all added a tally for the Avs. Vancouver’s Max Sasson opened the scoring at 29 seconds of the first period with a goal off the rush. MacKinnon tied the game at 1:22 of the first period via a shot from the high slot after making a series of moves to create space for himself. Teddy Blueger gave the Canucks a 2-1 lead at 5:21 of the first period with a shorthanded goal via a right-circle shot off the rush. At 11:38 of the opening frame, Jake DeBrusk doubled Vancouver’s lead on the power play via a shot from the doorstep. Landeskog made it a 3-2 game at 16:05 of the first period with his 12th goal of the season via a redirection from the slot on Burns’ left-point shot.
Blueger gave the Canucks a 4-2 lead at 5:02 of the second period with a shot from the doorstep off the rush. Vancouver took a 5-2 lead at 9:42 of the middle frame when Brock Boeser scored via a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle. Boeser made it 6-2 at 15:21 of the second period via a shot from the high slot off the rush. The Avs cut its deficit to three at 15:43 of the middle frame when Malinski scored his sixth goal of the season via a shot from the point. At 14 seconds of the third period, Kelly made it a 6-4 game with his 19th goal of the season via a right-circle shot off the rush. Burns put the Avalanche within a goal at 13:21 of the third period with his 11th tally of the season via a one-timer from the right point. Colorado tied the game at 13:58 of the third period when Malinski scored his second goal of the game and seventh of the season via a shot from the high slot. The Canucks took a 7-6 lead when Marcus Pettersson scored with a left-circle one-timer at 14:21 of the third period. Boeser gave Vancouver an 8-6 lead at 18:31 of the third period with an empty-net goal.
Leading the Way
Nate the Great
MacKinnon leads the NHL in goals (50) while ranking third in points (121) and assists (71).
Wedgewall
Among goalies with at least 23 games played this season, Scott Wedgewood leads the NHL in goals-against average (2.19) and save percentage (.916).
Marty Party
Martin Necas is tied for eighth in the NHL in points (92).
Series History
In 117 previous regular-season games against the Stars, the Avalanche has a record of 56-40-8-13. The teams have played in seven playoff series, in addition to a seeding round-robin contest in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Lone Star State Shutout
Jake Oettinger recorded a 22-save shutout as the Stars defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-0 at American Airlines Center on Thursday. In the first period, the Stars took a 2-0 lead after a power-play goal from Matt Duchene at 9:43 and a tally from Arttu Hyry at 11:12. Adam Erne gave Dallas a 3-0 lead at 2:15 of the second period.
Tallying Points Against Texas’ Team
MacKinnon has posted 52 points (19g/33a) in 47 regular-season games against the Stars, in addition to 29 points (14g/15a) in 21 playoff contests.
Landeskog has recorded 32 points (16g/16a) in 36 regular-season contests against Dallas along with 10 points (3g/7a) in 12 playoff games.
Artturi Lehkonen has registered 17 points (10g/7a) in 18 regular-season games against the Stars, in adiition to seven points (4g/3a) in 13 playoff contests.
Stars’ Scorers
Jason Robertson leads the Stars in points (89) while ranking second in goals (40) and third in assists (49).
Wyatt Johnston leads Dallas in goals (41) while ranking second in points (80) and fourth in assists (39).
Miro Heiskanen leads the Stars in assists (53) and ranks fourth in points (62).
A Numbers Game
2
Since entering the NHL in the 2013-14 season, MacKinnon is the only Canadian player to record multiple 50-goal seasons and just one of four players overall to reach that mark in more than one campaign (Alex Ovechkin – 5, Leon Draisaitl – 4, Auston Matthews – 2).
3.75
Colorado’s 3.75 goals per game since March 1st are tied for the third most in the NHL.
2.43
The Avalanche’s 2.43 goals against per game on the road are the fewest in the NHL this season.
Quote That Left a Mark
“Just growing in his game. He probably puts a lot of pressure on himself coming in and being that number-one right [defenseman], after you lose a guy that you’ve probably been trying to mold your game after and look up to (Cale Makar). Proud of his growth over the last two years I’ve been here. It’s impressive. He’s got a [heck] of a shot and he probably deserves more goals than what he’s gotten and nice to see him get a couple. But, everything’s an experience.”
-- Scott Wedgewood on Sam Malinski's play
