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It is a matchup of elite offenses at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Sunday afternoon, when Central Division foes will match up in a key game for NHL playoff positioning.
Both the Dallas Stars (42-21-2, 86 points) and the Colorado Avalanche (40-24-3, 83 points) are expecting long playoff runs this spring.
These two Western Conference rivals could easily see one another in the postseason, and this potential first-round preview will offer fans a glimpse at two clear Stanley Cup contenders as the 2024/25 regular season begins to wind down.
Puck drop takes place at 3:30 Eastern, and fans in the United States will be able to catch the game on TNT or streaming on Max.
Avalanche win it in OT!
Cale Makar scored for the home team in overtime to grab a crucial W at Bell Arena.
Makar also had two assists in the game.
Free hockey in Denver!
The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche are heading to overtime after a thrilling third period that included two goals from the visiting team within 20 seconds.
Matt Duchene ties the game!
The Dallas Stars found the net twice in a 20 second lapse in the third period to make things even in Denver
Dallas comes back to life
The Stars took advantage of a quick transition to make the score 2-3 thanks to a Mavrik Bourque goal
Final period underway at Ball Arena
Dallas need to push early on in the third period to have a chance at a comeback win against a dominant Avalanche team
Avalanche extends their lead!
Colorado found the back of the net again thanks to a Jonathan Drouin shot with 2 minutes to go in the second period
Bo Nix is taking in the action on the ice
The Denver Broncos quarterback is at Ball Arena for the division game that will set the tone for the home team in the remaining weeks of the regular season
Valeri Nichushkin finds the net
The Avalanche scored the go-ahead goal after 18 shots through the second period.
Avalanche's tribute video for Mikko Rantanen
Colorado posted a touching tribute video to the Finnish star on social media, who spent 10 years playing in Denver
Martin Necas ties the game!
The Avalanche are back in the game with a power play goal by forward Martin Necas with 5 minutes left in the 1st period
Dallas scores first!
The Stars' goal came in just 4:10 into the game at Ball Arena thanks to a beautiful shot by Jason Robertson
Emotional pre-game ceremony in honor of Nathan Mackinnon
The Avalanche player continues to make history in the NHL, as one of the league's most-dominating players
Ball Arena ready to go!
Fans in Denver are poised to back their team as they face a crucial match in their playoff hopes
Last minute analysis before puck drop
The Colorado Avalanche need to make a statement today against the Dallas Stars at home
Where to watch Stars vs Avalanche live
Today's game will be nationally televised through TNT in the United States.
Fans in Mexico can also watch the broadcast in Spanish live on Sky Sports.
Rantanen's emotional return to Colorado
This Sunday's NHL matchup between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche promises to be a thrilling showdown with playoff implications and plenty of emotional drama as Mikko Rantanen returns to Colorado less than two months after being traded away.
Since ing Dallas, Rantanen has made an immediate impact, recording two goals and one assist in just three games.
NHL Playoff race is heating up
Several teams are making strong pushes as the regular season is coming to an end.
With just weeks away from the postseason, fans are buzzing with the promise of thrilling matchups.
2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs if they started today:
Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers
Florida Panthers vs. Ottawa Senators
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils
Winnipeg Jets vs. Vancouver Canucks
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild
Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers
Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche
Stars vs Avalanche projected lineups
Stars:
Jason Robertson -- Roope Hintz -- Mikko Rantanen
Mason Marchment -- Matt Duchene -- Mikael Granlund
Jamie Benn -- Wyatt Johnston -- Evgenii Dadonov
Oskar Back -- Mavrik Bourque -- Sam Steel
Thomas Harley -- Ilya Lyubushkin
Esa Lindell -- Cody Ceci
Brendan Smith -- Matt Dumba
Jake Oettinger
Casey DeSmith
Avalanche:
Artturi Lehkonen -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Martin Necas
Jonathan Drouin -- Brock Nelson -- Valeri Nichushkin
Joel Kiviranta -- Charlie Coyle -- Ross Colton
Parker Kelly -- Jack Drury -- Logan O'Connor
Devon Toews -- Cale Makar
Ryan Lindgren -- Josh Manson
Samuel Girard -- Sam Malinski
Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood
Stars vs Avs could be a Playoff preview
Today's game is also crucial for playoff positioning, with Colorado still holding onto hopes of securing home-ice advantage in the postseason.
The Avalanche sit just three points behind Dallas but have two games in hand, making this clash even more significant.
With Colorado riding a strong eight-game winning streak, including an undefeated record at Ball Arena since January 31st, they'll look to keep the momentum going and close the gap in the standings.
Stars' Mikko Rantanen meets his former team
The Stars made a big splash at the NHL trade deadline earlier this month, acquiring explosive winger Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes and promptly g him to an eight-year contract extension.
Rantanen's arrival only makes Dallas, an annual Stanley Cup contender, a more dangerous proposition as the season reaches a critical juncture.
Only the Winnipeg Jets and the Washington Capitals have more team points than the Stars this season; Dallas ranks sixth in the NHL in goals scored and third in goals allowed.
Rantanen, who won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022, has played just three games since the trade from Carolina, but he has scored twice and provided one assist over that short sample size.
If Dallas is going to get over the hump in a tough Western Conference and win its first Cup since 1999, Rantanen will probably be a big reason why.
Makar, MacKinnon, and the star-studded Avs eye statement win
NHL assists and points leader Nathan MacKinnon is eyeing his second successive Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player; he is the driving force behind Colorado's elite offense, which hasn't skipped a beat since the Avalanche dealt away Rantanen.
The Avs also have arguably the best defenseman in the sport in 26-year-old Cale Makar, and this pair is hoping to lead Colorado to its second Stanley Cup in four years.
The Avalanche rank fourth in the NHL in goals scored this season, and they face a big test on Sunday against the Stars' penalty kill; Dallas has the league's best PK unit at nearly 85 percent effectiveness.
MacKinnon and company will be looking to do much of their damage at even strength in order to secure an eighth win from a stretch of nine games.
What a shot by Cale Makar to seal the W!
Take a closer look at the game-winning goal in overtime for the Colorado Avalanche