Dallas at Colorado

Dallas has improved the defense under coach Ken Hitchcock at #14 in goals allowed, #11 in penalty killing. The offense is still the strength of the team with the league's second-ranked power play behind Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Devin Shore. Seguin and Shore each recorded a goal and an assist in last night's 3-1 triumph over the Canadians. That offense will do well against a bad Colorado defense that is #27 in goals allowed and penalty killing. Colorado is also without starting goalie Semyon Varlamov, who will miss his second straight game with an illness. Backup Jonathan Bernier starts and is 3-4-0 allowing 25 goals. The Avalanche are 9-24 against winning teams, plus 8-23 after a victory. The Stars have also taken five of the last six meetings. Play Dallas.