Colorado Avalanche goaltender Calvin Pickard will start his third straight game. He allowed six goals on 31 shots in a 6-3 loss against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. No. 1 goalie Semyon Varlamov did not travel to Dallas and is being re-evaluated for a groin injury. "I thought I had a really good start, but at the same time I let up six goals," Pickard said. "You want to get some consistency in your game, but it seems like for whatever reason things have been getting away from us." Left wing Cody McLeod and defenseman Patrick Wiercioch will be back in the lineup after being scratched against the Flames. The Avalanche are 1-6-0 in their past seven games, 3-12-1 in their past 16 and 8-9-0 on the road this season. "I think we simplify things on the road," coach Jared Bednar said. "We seem to be more focused for 60 minutes." Center Matt Duchene is one point from 400 in the NHL.
Stars team scope
Dallas Stars center Cody Eakin will return to the lineup after serving a four-game suspension for charging New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist on Dec. 15. "It's nice to come back when the guys are playing well and playing hard," Eakin said. "Hopefully I can complement that." Eakin has struggled this season after missing the first 17 games because of a knee injury. He has one assist in 14 games. "Not the way I anticipated starting," Eakin said. "It's almost a fresh slate for me in the second half." The Stars are trying to win three straight games for the first time this season and can match a season-long five-game point streak with a win Thursday. They defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 in overtime last Friday and won 3-2 at the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday. "I think playing better defensively drives everything," coach Lindy Ruff said. "You don't get behind you don't have to chase games. When you're not behind the chances go down and you can play a smarter type of game." Dallas is 3-0-1 in its past four games and 10-5-3 at home this season. Goaltender Kari Lehtonen will make his third straight start. He stopped 35 of 37 shots against the Coyotes.
Sharp and Roussel each took part in the morning skate Thursday. Sharp is day-to-day and Roussel is a few days away, Ruff said.
Who's hot
MacKinnon has four points (one goal, three assists) in his past two games. Spezza has five points (two goals, three assists) during a three-game point streak. Klingberg has four points (one goal, three assists) during a four-game point streak.
