Eurolanche

Stars visit Avalanche

Season series: The Colorado Avalanche won four of five games against the Dallas Stars last season, including both at Pepsi Center. Colorado's Matt Duchene had three goals in the five games and has eight goals and 19 points in 19 career games against Dallas.

Stars team scope (9-9-5): Dallas comes to Denver after a 5-4 overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild at home on Friday. The Stars trailed 3-0 late in the second period, scored four unanswered goals, then allowed the Wild to tie the game with a sixth-attacker goal and win in overtime. The loss dropped the Stars to 0-5-2 within the Central Division. Center Tyler Seguin scored his League-leading 18th goal to help fuel the comeback against Minnesota; he also had an assist and is tied for second in the scoring race with 30 points.

Avalanche team scope (8-10-5): Colorado is 4-2-0 in its past six games despite a 3-2 home loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday. The good news for the Avalanche is that first-pair defenseman Erik Johnson and center John Mitchell practiced Friday and will be ready to go against the Stars. Johnson took a big hit Tuesday against the Arizona Coyotes and couldn't play the following night; Mitchell has missed three games with a leg injury. Coach Patrick Roy confirmed that rookie Calvin Pickard, who kept the Avalanche in the game against Chicago, will start against Dallas, but said starter Semyon Varlamov, sidelined since Nov. 20 with a groin injury, should be able to play Monday against the Montreal Canadiens.

-- by NHL.com --