MINI-PREVIEW: STARS @ AVALANCHE

Looking to open the 2016-17 season with back-to-back wins, Lindy Ruff's Dallas Stars (1-0-0) are in Denver on Saturday night to take on Jared Bednar's Colorado Avalanche (0-0-0). Game time at the Pepsi Center is 8:00 p.m. CT.

The Avalanche went undefeated (6-0-0) in the preseason. Dallas struggled at times in recent seasons against Colorado under Patrick Roy, especially in meetings in Denver.

On Thursday, Dallas overcame an awful first period -- one in which they were outshot, 17-1, but fortunate enough to take a 1-1 tie to intermission courtesy of the play of Antti Niemi and an early goal by Stephen Johns.

The Stars came alive as the game move along, despite Anaheim briefly tying the game at 2-2 in the third periodl. Goals by newcomer Lauri Korpikoski in the second period, and by Antoine Roussel and new fourth-line center Adam Cracknell in the third forged a 4-2 victory. Niemi finished with 33 saves.


Per Stars Inside Edge, Johnny Oduya took a maintenance day on Friday. Jamie Oleksiak has been cleared to play on Saturday, but Ales Hemsky remains out despite practicing. Ruff, who serially juggled lines all of last season, was not about to tip his hand if he was going to make any line changes in Colorado.

Practice lines on Friday (per Inside Edge)

Jamie Benn - Tyler Seguin - Patrick Eaves
Patrick Sharp - Jason Spezza - Jiri Hudler
Antoine Roussel - Radek Faksa - Adam Cracknell
Lauri Korpikoski - Devin Shore - Brett Ritchie

Patrik Nemeth - John Klingberg
Jamie Oleksiak - Stephen Johns
Dan Hamhuis - Jordie Benn
Maintenance Day; Johnny Oduya

Antti Niemi / Kari Lehtonen

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