The trade deadline frenzy isn’t the only hockey-related thing happening today! In fact, the Colorado Avalanche and Central Division rival Dallas Stars are set to face eachother for the first time since October 11, 2025. It feels like it’s been that long, and although there’s probably not much to take away from a game last calendar year, Dallas did win 5-4 in a SO.

Colorado Avalanche: (39-10-9)

The Opponent: Dallas Stars (38-14-9)

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Time: 6:00 p.m. MT

Watch: Altitude, Altitude+, ESPN+

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche have some work left to do at the deadline (potentially), but have already done a bit by adding Nick Blankenburg from the Nashville Predators and Nicolas Roy from Toronto. Roy was seen skating with the team this morning, so he will likely make his debut wearing the number ten jersey.

The Avalanche have quietly won three games in a row and look to extend that in a massively important divisional matchup. Colorado has dominated the top spot in the Central, but both Dallas and Minnesota have been able to just about keep pace, lying in wait for the Avalanche to drop a few.

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Projected Lineup:

Gabriel Landeskog — Nathan MacKinnon — Martin Necas
Ross Colton — Brock Nelson — Valeri Nichushkin
Parker Kelly — Jack Drury — Joel Kiviranta
Zakhar Bardakov — Nicolas Roy — Gavin Brindley

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Josh Manson — Brent Burns
Brett Kulak — Sam Malinski

MacKenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Dallas Stars

The Stars are keeping right up with solid play despite not having Mikko Rantanen since the Olympic break. Most thought that loss would hit them hard, but old friend Matt Duchene and Sam Steele have supplemented his scoring and are leading the way right now.

Dallas’ netminder Jake Oettinger seems to rise to the occasion when matched up with Colorado, contrary to what we see from other netminders. Oettinger may have been pulled last postseason, but he was probably Dallas’ best player throughout the Dallas vs. Colorado series.

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Projected Lineup:

Jason Robertson — Roope Hintz — Wyatt Johnston
Sam Steel — Matt Duchene — Jamie Benn
Adam Erne — Justin Hryckowian — Mavrik Bourque
Colin Blackwell — Oskar Back — Nathan Bastian

Esa Lindell — Miro Heiskanen
Thomas Harley — Nils Lundkvist
Lian Bichsel — Ilya Lyubushkin

Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith

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