Looking to build on a run that has seen the team go 3-0-1 over its last four games, Lindy Ruff's Dallas Stars (15-14-7) return to action on Thursday to take on Jared Bednar's Colorado Avalanche (12-21-1). Game time at the American Airlines Center is 7:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest.
This is the fourth of five meetings between the teams this season. The Stars are 2-1-0 in the season series thus far, with a pair of regulation victories.
Dallas exited the holiday break with a 3-2 road win on Tuesday against the Arizona Coyotes; just the second time this season the Stars have won back-to-back games although the team is 4-1-1 over its past six matches. In the Coyotes game, Kari Lehtonen led the way with 35 saves to earn the win. Special teams made the difference, as Stars scored both shorthanded and power play goals.
Third-line center Cody Eakin has finished serving his four-game NHL suspension. He is eligible to return for this game. Antoine Roussel (upper body) and Patrick Sharp (concussion) remain out but are considered day-to-day at this point. Mattias Janmark (knee surgery) and RW Ales Hemsky (hip surgery) are on the injured reserve list.
The Avs enter this game coming off an ugly 6-3 home loss to the Calgary Flames in their return on Tuesday from the holiday break. Colorado is 3-7-0 over its last 10 games and 3-12-1 over its last 16 tilts.
Calvin Pickard will get the start in goal for Colorado. Semyon Varlamov (groin) did not travel with the team to Dallas. Defenseman Erik Johnson (leg) remains on injured reserve.