Venue: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Puck drop: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV/Streaming: ESPN, TVA Sports
This is the first of a home-and-home series (the teams meet again Wednesday in Denver) and the first meeting of the 2026-27 season between these Central Division rivals. Colorado has been one of the league’s highest-scoring teams early, while Dallas has emphasized strong defensive play and elite goaltending.
Injury Reports
Colorado Avalanche:
Logan O’Connor (RW, lower body): Day-to-day / IR status; missed recent action.
Georgii Merkulov (C, undisclosed): Out / IR.
Core stars Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Martin Necas, Gabriel Landeskog, and Brock Nelson are available.
Dallas Stars:
Matt Duchene (C, core muscle): Underwent surgery; expected out approximately three months (placed on LTIR).
Joel Kiviranta (LW, lower body): Out (missed recent games; possible return around this timeframe or shortly after).
Radek Faksa (C, lower body): Day-to-day.
Cameron Hughes (C, upper body) and Harrison Scott (undisclosed): Out / IR-NR.
Jake Oettinger remains the clear No. 1 in net.
Current/Projected Rosters and Lineups
Colorado Avalanche:
Forwards: Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, Artturi Lehkonen, Gabriel Landeskog, Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri, Jaden Schwartz, Fedor Svechkov, T.J. Hughes, Nicolas Roy, Parker Kelly, Zachary L’Heureux (status TBD).
Defense: Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Brett Kulak, Sam Malinski, Josh Manson, Brent Burns, Noah Juulsen.
Goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood (frequent starter), Scott Wedgewood.
Projected lines (recent usage):
Lehkonen – MacKinnon – Necas
Landeskog – Nelson – Kadri
Schwartz – Svechkov – Hughes
Kelly – Roy – depth.
Defense: Toews–Makar, Kulak–Malinski, Manson–Burns.
Dallas Stars:
Forwards: Mikko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston, Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Jamie Benn, Sam Steel, Tyler Seguin, Justin Hryckowian, Arttu Hyry, Oskar Bäck, Colin Blackwell, Radek Faksa (status TBD).
Defense: Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, Thomas Harley, Nils Lundkvist, Lian Bichsel, Tyler Myers.
Goalies: Jake Oettinger (projected starter), Casey DeSmith.
Projected lines (recent games):
Steel – Johnston – Rantanen
Robertson – Hintz – Benn
Hryckowian – Hyry – Seguin
Bäck – Faksa – Blackwell.
Defense: Lindell–Heiskanen, Harley–Lundkvist, Bichsel–Myers.
Recent Team Forms
Avalanche (3-2-0): High-octane offense (leading the league in goals per game early). Recent results include a 6-3 home loss to Toronto (MacKinnon scored twice), a 7-3 win at Calgary, a narrow loss at Winnipeg, and earlier blowout wins. MacKinnon and Makar have been dominant. They are 1-1-0 on the road.
Stars (2-2-1): Strong defensive start and excellent goaltending from Oettinger (.963 SV% early). Recent results include a 2-1 shootout loss at Pittsburgh, wins over Buffalo and San Jose, and earlier losses. Offense has been more limited (especially without Duchene), but the structure has kept games tight. They are 1-1-0 at home.
Series History
First meeting of 2026-27. Recent seasons have featured competitive, often low-event or high-skill games, with both teams capable of winning on the road. The clubs have traded wins in prior campaigns, and this home-and-home will set an early tone in the Central Division race. Mikko Rantanen (formerly with Colorado) adds extra intrigue facing his old club.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Nathan MacKinnon / Martin Necas / Artturi Lehkonen vs. Stars defense (Heiskanen, Lindell, Harley): Colorado’s elite top line against Dallas’s shutdown pairs and Oettinger will be the game’s central battle.
Mikko Rantanen / Wyatt Johnston / Jason Robertson vs. Avalanche pairs (Makar, Toews): Rantanen faces his former team; Dallas’s skill players will test Colorado’s blue line.
Goaltending: Mackenzie Blackwood/Scott Wedgewood vs. Jake Oettinger: Oettinger has been outstanding early and gives Dallas a clear edge in net.
Secondary: Special teams (Colorado’s power play has been productive; Dallas’s PK is strong) and depth contributions from Nelson, Kadri, Hintz, and Benn.
Betting Trends
Colorado scores in bunches but can be vulnerable defensively. Dallas has been stingy and benefits from home ice and Oettinger. Road favorites in high-scoring matchups often see totals play up, while strong home goaltending can support unders or home moneyline value.
The Avalanche’s star power makes them dangerous every night, but the Stars’ home structure and elite goaltending position them well in this Central Division clash. Expect a competitive, high-skill game at American Airlines Center.
Game Odds
Colorado Avalanche – 114
Dallas Stars 6
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, October 12, 2026
