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.”
