Looking for a strong push to win first place honors in the Central Division and Western Conference, Lindy Ruff's Dallas Stars (48-23-9) are home on Thursday to host Patrick Roy's Colorado Avalanche (39-37-4). Game time at the American Airlines Center is 7:30 p.m. CDT. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest.
This is the fourth and final game of the season series between the teams. The Stars have lost two of three thus far, but took a 4-3 overtime win in Denver on Feb. 4. The Avalanche won a 6-3 game on home ice in the Stars' second game of the 2015-16 season. Dallas lost, 3-1, at the American Airlines Center on Jan. 23.
With two games remaining apiece, the Stars enter this game tied with the St. Louis Blues for first place in the Central Division. On the injury front, the Stars hope to have defenseman Kris Russel back in the lineup after missing the last seven games with a foot injury.
None among Jason Demers, Mattias Janmark, Brett Ritchie, Patrick Eaves or Tyler Seguin (achilles tendon laceration) are ready to return to the lineup. Demers could be back for the weekend. Seguin may be ready for the start of the playoffs but that is uncertain at this point. Curtis McKenzie was the AHL's Texas Stars on Wednesday and will be in the lineup for this game.
The Avalanche, who are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games and have lost four in a row, have been eliminated from the playoff picture. The team is confined to trying to play a spoiler role to prevent the Stars from moving closer to clinching home ice throughout the playoffs and staying away from a first-round playoff match with the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks.
Roy was recently critical of forward Matt Duchene openly celebrating his 30th goal of the season when there was nothing to be about on a team level. Nathan MacKinnon (knee) is unlikely to play again this season.