Dallas Stars Face Critical Matchup With Colorado In First Game Back
By Josh Clark
The break is finally over. After six days off from action, the Dallas Stars will take the ice tonight against the Colorado Avalanche. And as crazy as it may seem, the results of tonight’s game could have substantial consequences for both clubs.
It’s finally time for Dallas Stars hockey again.
After a long and enduring six-day break, the Stars will hop back into action tonight at 8:00 p.m. when they take on the Colorado Avalanche. This will be the first game for both teams since last Saturday.
But while both teams have taken their league-mandated break over the past week, the standings around them have been constantly shifting. And considering both clubs are Central Division teams in the Western Conference, there’s a lot to take in after one week off.
Both teams entered their respective bye weeks last Saturday with dominant victories over their opponents. For Dallas, they beat the Oilers 5-1. On the other hand, Colorado defeated the Wild 7-2. With the wins secured, the Stars and Oilers entered the week off as the first and second wild card teams.
But here we are one week later, and things seem to have changed. While the Stars are still in sole control of the first wild card spot, the Avalanche have fallen to dead last in the Central Division. That isn’t too heavy of a burden, though, considering they are three points out of the final wild card spot in the West. In addition to that, they also have games in hand that they have picked up over the past week.
As it stands going into Saturday night, here are the current standings in the Western Conference wild card race.
1. Dallas Stars 43 GP 51 PTS
2. Chicago Blackhawks 44 GP 50 PTS
3. Minnesota Wild 44 GP 50 PTS
4. San Jose Sharks 40 GP 48 PTS
5. Colorado Avalanche 41 GP 47 PTS
As you can tell, things are pretty crammed around the playoff bubble. Every team from the top to the bottom of that list still has a legitimate chance at claiming hold of a wild card spot, and one or two wins or losses could really change the landscape.
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With that being said, tonight is a very important game for both the Stars and Avalanche. Not only is it a Central Division matchup, but it’s a chance for both teams to bounce back in a big way from their breaks. One can reassert their dominance and continue climbing in the standings while the other could use their game in hand wisely and jump back into the thick of the race.
This is the fifth and final meeting between the Stars and Avs this year. Throughout the first four matchups, there has been no shortage of intensity and energy. Colorado has practically come out of nowhere after a historically bad year last season and now seems to have their eyes set on the postseason. Meanwhile, the Stars are working their way back from a bad season of their own and look poised to make a run.
But tonight’s game could play a big role in the teams trying to establish their momentum out of the break. It can sometimes be difficult to get going, and the schedule is obviously not waiting for them.
Tonight is a big game for both clubs and could help or potentially hurt both in a big way. If the Stars win, they can continue to pad their lead in the Central Division and set themselves up to crack the top three. But if they lose, it could put them in a position to fall out to last place. There are plenty of ways that this game could take the Stars.
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So let’s see if they can shake off the bye week rust quickly and claim the series in their final meeting of the season with the Avs. After all, every game seems to be more and more crucial as the season goes on.