After dropping a 3-2 overtime loss at home to the New York Islanders Monday, the Stars go to Denver in the second game of a back-to-back.
Monday night saw a merging of youth and experience for the Dallas Stars. Logan Stankoven, their 47th overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft, got his first point followed by his first goal in his second NHL game. Better yet, it came on his 21st birthday in front of the home crowd, who showed their appreciation for the kid practically every time he touched the puck.
Matt Duchene, the veteran who signed with Dallas before the season, earned his 800th career point, scoring the goal that gave Stankoven his first point on a secondary assist. After signing with Dallas this past offseason, Duchene has tallied 56 points (23-33-56).
These are important accomplishments, of course. But they also created a dilemma. How do you decide who gets the game puck?
"I told (Stankoven) we have to cut it in half, but I mean he can have it," Duchene told the media after the game. "I'll find another puck."
The jubilation over both milestones was tempered by the game's outcome, as the Stars fell at home to the New York Islanders 3-2 in overtime. It was another example of the Stars playing well enough to stay in the game, just not well enough to get the W.
Now, the Central Division-leading Stars must quickly put the memory of that loss behind them and head to Denver for a showdown Tuesday with the Colorado Avalanche, the division foe who sits four points behind in third place.
Dallas is no slouch on the road (18-8-5). But they'll be up against a Colorado team that boasts the best home record in the NHL at 22-6-0.
The Avs are smarting from a 4-3 loss of their own Saturday at the hands of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tyler Bertuzzi scored a hat trick for the Leafs on his 29th birthday, including the game-winner on a power play at the17:09 mark of the third period.
One positive from the game was Mikko Rantanen, who notched his 30th goal of the season, becoming the first player in Avalanche history to score 30 or more goals four consecutive seasons.
The Stars are hoping to break a three-game winless streak (0-2-1) against the Avalanche, including a 0-1-1 mark through their first two meetings this season. Dallas has been outscored 11-7 in those two games and are just 2-for-7 on the power play. The penalty-kill unit has fared much better, going 5-for-7 during that span.
Dallas is 1-2-3 over its last six games. Goals have been hard to come by recently, with just six goals in the last four games.
Projected Lines:
Robertson-Pavelski-Hintz
Marchment-Duchene-Dellandrea
Benn-Johnston-Stankoven
Steel-Faksa-Smith
Harley-Heiskanen
Suter-Hanley
Lindell-Pouliot
Oettinger
Wedgewood
These lines are unofficial.
Both teams are dead even in goals scored per game with a 3.60 average. The first period has been a problem for the Stars, particularly with shots. They have a total of 566 shots in the first period on the season compared to Colorado's 634. Starting fast out of the gate will be critical to the Stars' success, especially in a tough building like Ball Arena.
Puck drop is at 8:30 Pm Central, and the game will be televised on ESPN+ and Hulu.
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