First Shift 🏒
Traditionally, in college football, it’s a big deal when No. 1 plays No. 2 in any game.
While the NHL is a little different with an 82-game schedule, it still will be a big deal Friday when Colorado brings the best record in the league to Dallas to face the Stars, who sit second overall.
“I’ve been paying attention to this game against Colorado since the last time we played Colorado,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said.
The last time was a 5-4 shootout win for the Stars on Oct. 11 in Denver. Jake Oettinger stopped 35 shots in that game, while Dallas got goals from Thomas Harley, Johnston, Robertson and Nathan Bastian to get a huge win in just the second game of the season.
Much has changed since that game, as Dallas is without injured forwards Mikko Rantanen and Radek Faksa and might be without Roope Hintz. Hintz has been out with an illness since the Olympic Break, and while he went through full practice Thursday, he has not been activated from IR. If Hintz does play, that could create a change in lines. Hintz practiced with Robertson and Johnston Thursday. During the past four games of a 10-game win streak, Johnston has centered Robertson and Mavrik Bourque.
“Once Roope comes in, it’s going to change things,” Gulutzan said. “I gave Johnny some reps on right wing…I don’t know if that’s the way we’ll play, but if we have Roope in, that’s a possibility.”
Dallas acquired defenseman Tyler Myers on Wednesday from Vancouver. However, the big blueliner just got into Dallas on Thursday evening and might not dress Friday. In preparation for a trade, the Canucks were holding Myers out, so his last game was Feb. 4. Gulutzan said he might need to get Myers some practice time to get him familiar with the Stars’ scheme.
“There may be an easing in process for him, because he sat out games in Vancouver waiting to see if something was going to happen,” Gulutzan said. “And with the systems and changes, you certainly want to put him in to have success, so we’ll see.”
Dallas also acquired forward Michael Bunting from Nashville Thursday, so that’s another moving part.
Still, whoever plays, the battle will be intense. Colorado is 41-10-9 for 91 points. Dallas is 38-14-9 for 85 points. The two are both in the Central Division and are scuffling with Minnesota for playoff seeding, so a win would go a long way for either team.
“Whenever you can play the best team in the league, and we haven’t played them in a long time, it’s a good test,” said Robertson. “With us playing well, we’re looking forward to it,”
The two teams will meet again March 18 and April 4, and they could meet in the playoffs, as well.
