[9:00 PM] Stars @ Avalanche

Who will WIN this matchup?

Dallas Stars (9-10-6)

@ Colorado Avalanche (9-12-1)

 

Starting Goalies:

Kari Lehtonen(DAL): Likely

Semyon Varlamov(COL): Confirmed

 

• The Dallas Stars are allowing goals at an alarming rate and their troubles on the road have the owners of last season’s top mark in the Western Conference sinking in the Central Division in 2016-17. Winless in three straight overall and five in a row away from home, the Stars look to salvaged the finale of a four-game road trip on Saturday night when they visit the cellar-dwelling Colorado Avalanche.

• After permitting nine goals in his last two outings, Antti Niemi looks to rebound versus a team against which he has posted a 9-3-3 mark. The 33-year-old Finn was shredded in his last encounter with Colorado on Oct. 15, however, allowing five goals on 20 shots in 27 minutes. While Dallas is yielding an NHL-worst 3.40 goals per game, its high-octane offense is mustering a pedestrian 2.5 per contest. Veteran Jason Spezza had an assist versus the Penguins for his fifth point in nine games, although the five-time 30 goal scorer hasn’t tallied since Nov. 3 against St. Louis.

• Nathan MacKinnon (team-leading 15 points) has been held off the scoresheet in three straight games but came alive in his previous two meetings with Dallas this season, scoring a goal and setting up another in both clashes. Semyon Varlamov returned from a week’s absence due to an upper-body injury and turned in a solid 34-save performance against the Blue Jackets on Thursday. The 28-year-old Russian made just 19 saves in his last encounter with the Stars in a 3-2 loss on Nov. 17, but owns an impressive 12-4-2 career mark against the club.

• Seguin, who has 13 points in his last 14 games, has one goal and two assists in his last three contests.

• Colorado has been prone to slow starts this season, as it has scored the opening goal in just six of 23 games.

• Following Saturday’s tilt, Dallas will play nine of its next 12 games at home.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Dallas Stars

Confidence: 4/10

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