The Colorado Avalanche (13-10-0) are set to face the Dallas Stars (13-8-0) for the first time this season in a nationally televised game and a rematch of last season’s Western Conference second-round matchup. The Stars eliminated the Avalanche in six games after an overtime game-winner from former Av Matt Duchene to clinch the series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT

The Avs rebounded on Wednesday following a terrible loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. They defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 in a shootout led by Valeri Nichushkin, who scored the lone regulation goal and the only tally in the five-round shootout. Colorado is 7-2-0 in its last nine games and, outside of an embarrassing 8-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, has played pretty well and consistently over the past few weeks. Goaltending has been an issue for almost all year but Alexandar Georgiev has fared well, winning each of his last six starts and allowing 14 goals in those games — albeit he struggled in his relief appearance in the Tampa loss.

The team is also dealing with injury issues, again. Forward Jonathan Drouin had two goals in a huge victory over Florida last weekend but was announced out with an upper-body injury. He has missed each of the last two games since after returning for four. Drouin first suffered the injury on opening night at Vegas on Oct. 9 and missed 16 games. Head coach Jared Bednar confirmed earlier in the week that the same ailment has him out again. He is week-to-week.

Miles Wood was also placed on IR this week. He suffered an injury against Vegas on Wednesday and is out for the second time this season. Wood had a goal and an assist in the six games he played since returning from his previous injury.

The Dallas Stars boast one of the best home records in the league (8-2-0) and are looking to rebound in a huge way. In their last game, they were defeated 6-2 by the struggling Chicago Blackhawks, who got a hat trick from veteran forward Taylor Hall. The loss came on the road where the Stars are 5-6-0. Duchene leads the team with 26 points in 21 games and is playing some of the best hockey of his career. But their top three young forwards, Wyatt Johnston, Jason Robertson, and Roope Hintz are all struggling in the early. Neither of them has more than 13 points and they’re all on pace for 50 or fewer points a quarter into the regular season.

Dallas is led in goal by Jake Oettinger, who has an 11-4-0 record and a .912 save percentage. The teams will face each other only three times this season with tonight’s matchup being the only one in Dallas.

READ MORE: Miles Wood Placed Back on IR; Chris Wagner Recalled

Season Series

• Nov. 29 at Dallas Stars
• Jan. 18 vs Dallas Stars
• March 16 vs Dallas Stars

Avalanche Injuries

• Miles Wood (upper body, IR)
• Jonathan Drouin (upper body, week-to-week)
• Ross Colton (foot, 6-8 weeks)
• Gabriel Landeskog (knee, no timetable)

Projected Avalanche Lines (subject to change)

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Valeri Nichushkin
Nikolai Kovalenko — Casey Mittelstadt — Mikko Rantanen
Joel Kiviranta – Ivan Ivan – Logan O’Connor
Chase Bradley — Parker Kelly — Chris Wagner

Devon Toews — Cale Makar
Samuel Girard — Josh Manson
Calvin de Haan — Sam Malinski

Alexandar Georgiev
Justus Annunen

Projected Starters (subject to change)

• Unconfirmed: Alexandar Georgiev (COL)
• Confirmed: Jake Oettinger (DAL)

Upcoming Milestones

• Samuel Girard — needs 2 games for 500
• Nathan MacKinnon — needs 8 assists for 600, 4 PPG for 100
• Cale Makar — needs 6 goals for 100
• Mikko Rantanen — needs 7 games for 600, 3 PPG for 100

How to Watch