Embarking on a five-game road trip as they look for their fifth consecutive victory, Ken Hitchcock's Dallas Stars (5-3-0) are in Denver on Tuesday to take on Jared Bednar's Colorado Avalanche (4-4-0). Game time at the Pepsi Center is 8:00 p.m. CDT. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest.
This is the second of five meetings between the teams this season, and the first in Denver. Dallas has won seven of its last eight games against the Avalanche, including a 3-1 decision at the American Airlines center on Oct. 14.
In the game in Dallas, the Stars dominated a scoreless first period, stayed focused and went on to earn a win against an Avs team on the second half of a back-to-back set. At the time, the loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Colorado.
Tyler Seguin led the way for the Stars, compiling his first career Gordie Howe Hat Trick on an early second period assist, a buzzer-beating second period power play goal and a third period fight with former Stars teammate Patrik Nemeth. Stars captain Jamie Benn (one goal, one assist) also enjoyed a multi-point game. Esa Lindell added a late empty netter.
Ben Bishop earned the win in goal for Dallas, stopping 22 of 23 shots, yielding only an early third period tally by Matt Duchene (third goal of the season). Semyon Varlamov made 33 saves in a losing cause for Colorado.
Since that time, the Stars have gone on to sweep a home-and-home set against the lowly Arizona Coyotes, with 3-1 (home) and 5-4 (road) victories in regulation. The winning streak grew to four games with a 4-3 home win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
In Saturday's tilt with the Canes, Tyler Pitlick scored twice for Dallas. The Stars also got goals from Benn (fourth goal of the season) and Seguin (sixth). Bishop made 36 saves for the win, as Dallas built up a 4-0 lead entering the final minute of the second period. From there, the lead shrank to a single goal but the Stars held on for the regulation win.
The Stars have no reported injuries at present. Power forward Brett Ritchie took a maintenance day off from practice at Monday but is expected to play on Tuesday. The wives of defenseman Marc Methot and goaltender Kari Lehtonen are expecting to deliver babies within the next couple weeks but the players are on the 11-day road trip with the team for the time being.
Tuesday's game is the start of a grueling three-in-four gauntlet for the Stars. After this game, the Stars have a travel day on Wednesday, play the Oilers in Edmonton on Thursday and the Flames in Calgary on Friday.
Colorado started out the season at 4-1-0 but the loss to the Stars began a current three-game losing skid. The club is rested, however. The Avalanche enter this game coming off a 4-3 home regulation loss to the St. Louis Blues last Thursday. Colorado led after the first period but were buried by a three-goal outburst by the Blues in the middle stanza.
Nemeth, who sustained an injury in the fight with Seguin, got hurt again in Thursday's tilt with the Blues. He is doubtful for this game. J.T. Compher (thumb) and Tyson Jost (lower body) also went down last game. Both forwards were placed on the injured reserve list. The Avalanche have recalled forwards Gabriel Bourque and A.J. Greer from the AHL's San Antonio Rampage to fill the roster spots.
Entering Tuesday's game, Duchene (three goals, four assists), defenseman Tyson Barrie (two goals, five assists) and forward Mikko Rantanen (one goal, six assists) share the team scoring lead with seven points apiece in eight games. In goal, Semyon Varlamov (3-2-0 record, 2.21 GAA, .931 SV%, one shutout) will oppose Bishop.