Game Day Guide: Avalanche vs Stars

When: Tuesday, October 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: American Airlines Center 

TV: ESPN

Radio: The Ticket 96.7-FM, 1310-AM

Live Stats: NHL Game Center

Tickets: Single-game / Suites

Local Parking: AAC Parking Options

Arena Bag Policy: Frequently Asked Questions

Party on PNC Plaza: 5:30 p.m. South Entrance

50/50 Beneficiary: The V Foundation & Visiting Nurse Association

Promotional Schedule: Hockey Fights Cancer

Five Points 5️⃣

• The Dallas Stars face the Colorado Avalanche Tuesday night for the first of four matchups this season. The two teams will meet again on Oct. 14 (in Colorado), Jan. 22 (in Dallas) and Jan. 24 (in Colorado).
• Dallas is 71-69-23 all-time vs. Colorado, including a 43-24-14 mark on home ice.
• The Stars have earned points in seven of their last 10 games played against the Avalanche (4-3-3) dating back to Jan. 4, 2024. Dallas has also collected points in their last three consecutive games played vs. Colorado at American Airlines Center (2-0-1).
• Forward Jason Robertson has registered eight points (5-3—8) in his last six games played against the Avalanche, dating back to Jan. 18, 2025. Through 18 career games played vs. Colorado, Robertson has collected 21 points (10-11—21), averaging 1.17 points per game. His 1.17 points per game against them ranks 11th in the League among all active NHL skaters who have played Colorado at least 10 times in their careers.
• Forward Wyatt Johnston has recorded 12 points (3-9—12) in his last nine games played against the Avalanche, dating back to Feb. 27, 2024. In all, Johnston has totaled 13 points (4-9—13) in 15 career games played vs. Colorado, averaging 18:11 of on ice time per game. Three of his 15 career games against them have been multi-point outings.

Players To Watch 👀

Stars forward Seguin scored his first goal of the season and 49th career game-tying goal in Dallas' last game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, passing Dave Gagner for the sixth most in franchise history according to NHL Stats. In all, Seguin has tallied 312 goals and 706 points (312-394—706) with the Stars, both ranking fifth in franchise history. He also has put up the second-most overtime goals (10) and third-most game-winning goals (55) in franchise history. In his career against Colorado, Seguin has totaled 49 points (26-23—49) in 43 games played, averaging 1.14 points per game and upholding a plus-minus rating of +6. His 49 career points against them rank second among active Stars skaters, behind teammate Benn (16-35—51), while ranking fourth among all active NHL skaters. Entering Tuesday's contest, Seguin has notched 10 points (8-2—10) in his last seven games played against the Avalanche, dating back to March 4, 2023.

Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon recorded two goals in Colorado's last game against the Toronto Maple Leafs and now has five points (3-2—5) in his last two games played. In all, MacKinnon has recorded 10 points (5-5—10) through five games played this season, tied for sixth in both goals (5) and points (10) among NHL skaters entering play Monday. Since his rookie season (2013-14), he ranks second in the NHL in career scoring (425-727—1,152) and game-winning goals (77), while ranking fourth in power-play scoring (114-243—357) and total goals (425). In his career against Dallas, MacKinnon has registered 53 points (20-33—53) in 48 games played, averaging 1.10 points per game and carrying a plus-minus rating of +28. His 53 career points against the Stars are the third-highest mark among active NHL skaters. Entering Tuesday's matchup, MacKinnon rides a 10-game point streak vs. Dallas, dating back to Jan. 4, 2024, earning 18 points (6-12—18) during that span.

First Shift 🏒

The Stars finished third in the NHL last season…and second in the Central Division.

Thanks to a historic season from the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas was pushed to a first-round matchup with the Minnesota Wild and lost in six games. Ironically enough, Colorado had to face the Stars in the first round the year before and also was eliminated. That is life in the Central, and both teams will get a huge reminder when they play at Dallas on Tuesday and at Denver on Wednesday.

Coach Glen Gulutzan said he thinks the timing is good for his 2-2-1 team coming off a flat performance in Pittsburgh.

“I honestly think where our team is at, it’s perfect,” Gulutzan said. “We haven’t played our best hockey, but nothing brings out the best in you like a great opponent, and we’re going to face them twice. I think this comes at a great time to get us into our best game.”

Dallas started the season with two losses and then played very well in wins over San Jose and Buffalo. However, a 2-1 shootout loss to the Penguins was a dose of reality that needs to be checked.

“I’m sure (Colorado) didn’t like their last game and we haven’t liked many of our games, so the game comes at maybe a great time for both of us,” Gulutzan said.

Dallas went 2-1-1 against the Avalanche last season with three games going past regulation. Still, Colorado finished with 121 points (55-16-11) to 112 for the Stars (50-20-12). It was a great race, and it helped create even more friction in the rivalry.

“Every time they come here or we go there, it feels like a playoff game,” said Jake Oettinger, who is 7-3-3 in his career against Colorado with a 3.05 GAA and .911 save percentage. “It’s going to be a good way to see where we’re at. We always want to win the division and they didn’t let us last year. They’re there every year, so we’ll have to go through them if we want to win the division.”

Mikko Rantanen has played three regular season games against his old team, but seven more in the playoffs. He ranks fourth all-time in Colorado franchise history in goals scored (287), fifth in points (681) and eighth in games played (619). He still knows half the roster.

“I’ve played against them over 10 times now, but it’s still good. There are a lot of friends on the team, so it’s always fun,” he said, adding the importance in the standings revs things up. “It’s a big two games. In a hard division like we have, these games are really important.”

Injury Update 🧑‍⚕️

Stars forward Matt Duchene had surgery to address a “core injury” and is expected to miss approximately three months.

Duchene has not played this season. The injury flared in training camp and he has been rehabbing in the interim.

“He had some issues and we thought we could take some time and work through them, and then we couldn’t,” said coach Glen Gulutzan. “So we got another look at it and the collection of those minds decided: `Lets take care of it instead of trying to work through it.’”

Duchene missed 25 games last season with a concussion and came back and led the Stars in playoff scoring with 9 points (2 goals, 7 assists) in 6 games.

“I think he’s going to be able to come back easier, because the history of this is it’s a physical thing,” Gulutzan said. “Last year was a concussion and that’s tough to deal with. This is physical thing so you know what steps you can go through, so I would expect when he comes back it will be a little more seamless.”

Both Joel Kiviranta and Radek Faksa, who have been dealing with recent injuries, practiced Monday and could be available to play Tuesday.

“We’re just going to have the next-man-up mentality,” said forward Rantanen. “Obviously, nobody can do what Dutchy does, but we can get together as a group and some guys can get a bigger role. We just have to battle through it.”

Key Numbers 🔢

6

Tyler Myers had 6 blocked shots in a 2-1 shootout loss in Pittsburgh Saturday.

3

Arttu Hyry is tied with Rantanen for the team lead in penalties drawn at 3. Each has taken 2 penalties.

54.6 percent

Dallas ranks second in the NHL in faceoff winning percentage at 54.6. Colorado is 12th at 51.4 percent.

He Said It 📢

“I’m just trying to get better each game and clean things up. I’ve felt pretty good so far and our guys have played well in front of me…You’re not thinking, you’re having fun, not trying to put too much pressure on yourself and enjoy the game. I feel like I’ve done that so far.”

-Stars goalie Oettinger, who was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week with a 2-0-1 record, a 0.33 GAA and a .983 save percentage.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.

Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on X @MikeHeika.