Puck drop is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. MT)
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
TV/Streaming: TNT, truTV, HBO Max
This is the second half of a home-and-home series. Colorado won the opener 3-2 on the road in Dallas on Tuesday night (Martin Necas scored twice; Nathan MacKinnon had two assists). Both teams are on the second night of a back-to-back.
Current Rosters & Key Personnel
Dallas Stars (Coach: Glen Gulutzan)
Key forwards:
Mikko Rantanen (RW): 6 GP, 2G-4A-6P
Jason Robertson (LW): 6 GP, 2G-3A-5P
Roope Hintz (C): 6 GP, 2G-2A-4P
Tyler Seguin (C): 6 GP, 2G-1A-3P
Jamie Benn (LW), Sam Steel, Wyatt Johnston (limited), others including Arttu Hyry, Justin Hryckowian, Radek Faksa, Oskar Bäck.
Key defensemen:
Miro Heiskanen: 6 GP, 2G-3A-5P (~24:32 TOI/GP)
Thomas Harley, Esa Lindell, Nils Lundkvist, Lian Bichsel, Tyler Myers.
Goalies: Jake Oettinger (5 GP, 2-2-1, 1.20 GAA, .944 SV%) is the primary; Casey DeSmith (1 GP, 0-1-0, 2.05 GAA, .923 SV%) is the expected starter tonight.
Colorado Avalanche (Coach: Jared Bednar)
Key forwards:
Nathan MacKinnon (C): Leading with strong early production (multiple multi-point games, including assists in the Tuesday win).
Martin Necas: Multi-goal performance Tuesday (2G).
Artturi Lehkonen, Gabriel Landeskog, Nazem Kadri, Brock Nelson, Jaden Schwartz, Nicolas Roy, others (Fedor Svechkov, T.J. Hughes, Parker Kelly).
Key defensemen: Devon Toews, Sam Malinski, Brett Kulak, Josh Manson, Brent Burns, Noah Juulsen (Cale Makar status fluid). Goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood (primary, started and won Tuesday with 24 saves); Scott Wedgewood is the likely starter tonight.
Injury Reports
Stars:
Matt Duchene (C, abdomen/core) – Out long-term (surgery; ~3 months, IR-LT, expected return ~January).
Wyatt Johnston (C, illness) – Out (expected back ~Oct. 17; did not travel or play recently).
Joel Kiviranta (LW, lower body) – Day-to-day.
Roope Hintz (C, undisclosed) – Day-to-day (status after Tuesday to monitor).
Cameron Hughes and other depth pieces out.
Avalanche:
Logan O’Connor (RW, lower body) – Out (IR).
Georgii Merkulov – Out (IR/undisclosed).
Cale Makar (D, personal) – Day-to-day (missed Tuesday to be with family for birth of twins; status for Wednesday TBD).
Zachary L’Heureux (LW/upper body) – Day-to-day (missed Tuesday).
Projected Starting Goalies
Dallas: Casey DeSmith (highly projected; Oettinger started Tuesday).
Colorado: Scott Wedgewood (highly projected; Blackwood started Tuesday).
Recent Team Forms
Stars (2-3-1): Lost 3-2 at home to Colorado on Tuesday after a 2-1 SO loss at Pittsburgh. Earlier results included shutout wins (e.g., 4-0 at Buffalo, 5-0 vs. San Jose) but overall low scoring (league-low ~2.17 GF/GP early). Strong defensive metrics (best or near-best GA/GP at ~1.67) and excellent faceoff percentage (~56%). Power play modest (~14%). They rank near the bottom in offense but elite defensively with Oettinger healthy.
Avalanche (4-2-0): Won 3-2 at Dallas on Tuesday after a 6-3 home loss to Toronto. Strong offensive output (league-high ~4.83 GF/GP early) with high-event style. Special teams better on the power play (~24%). They have been high-scoring but allow more goals (~3.17 GA/GP). Home record solid early.
Series History
Colorado leads the 2026-27 season series 1-0 after Tuesday’s 3-2 win. Recent history is competitive and often tight or high-intensity (playoff-like physicality noted even in October). All-time and recent regular-season meetings have been relatively even or slightly tilted depending on the sample; the clubs have a history of close, physical Central Division battles, including prior playoff series. Unders have appeared in some recent matchups.
Key Player Matchups
Nathan MacKinnon / Martin Necas / Artturi Lehkonen line vs. Miro Heiskanen / Esa Lindell (and Dallas defensive structure): MacKinnon’s speed and playmaking (plus Necas’ finishing) test Dallas’s elite defense. Heiskanen’s two-way play and minutes will be critical.
Mikko Rantanen / Jason Robertson / Roope Hintz (or Seguin) vs. Colorado’s defense (Toews, Burns, others; Makar status key): Dallas’s top skill must generate more offense against Colorado’s high-event style. Rantanen’s size and skill vs. Avalanche mobility.
Physicality and special teams: Both sides showed intensity Tuesday (including MacKinnon fighting). Power-play edge leans Colorado early; Dallas’s strong PK and faceoffs are counterpoints.
Goaltending: DeSmith vs. Wedgewood in a backup duel on the second night of a back-to-back—potential variance.
Coaches Gulutzan and Bednar emphasize structure and transition; Colorado holds last-change advantage at home.
Betting Trends
Both on back-to-backs (fatigue and backup goalies favor lower scoring). Dallas has been strong under the total early (multiple Unders). Colorado’s high-offense style pushes Overs, but the quick turnaround and Tuesday’s 3-2 score suggest tighter play. Home ice and momentum favor the Avalanche slightly; Stars’ defensive identity keeps games competitive.
Game Odds
Dallas Stars 6
Colorado Avalanche – 130
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, October 13, 2026
