After an intense seven-game series saw the Dallas Stars emerge victorious over the Colorado Avalanche in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the teams are set to face off in their first rematch since then -- and it's shaping up to be an exciting one. Colorado is seeking redemption on home ice, while Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen will return to the city he called home for most of the first 10 seasons of his career.
This is just one of 16 games taking place Saturday, as every single NHL team is in action for the first time in the 2025-26 NHL season.
It's still early days, but with the offensive weapons on each of these rosters, this could very well be another playoff preview down the line.
Avalanche hope to open season with third straight victory
So far, so good for Colorado as the team has won each of its first two matchups thus far, and there's plenty of reasons to believe the trend could continue Saturday against Dallas.
The Avs kicked off the season against some formidable opponents in the Los Angeles Kings, winning 4-1, and the Utah Mammoth, coming out on top by a score of 2-1. Colorado scored a power play goal in each of those matchups, continuning the success from last year that saw the team finish with the NHL's seventh-best power play at 25.2%.
The usual suspects are leading the way with Nathan MacKinnon and reigning Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar each tallying three points so far, while the top line's newest addition and Rantanen's bona fide replacement, Martin Necas, opened the latest campaign with a two-goal outing.
There were some concerns about starting goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood being injured in training camp last month, but backup Scott Wedgewood has efficiently held down the fort, allowing just two goals in his two starts with a .966 SV% in that time. There's no official word yet, but Blackwood isn't expected to miss a significantly longer amount of time.
Goaltending has been solid, goal-scoring is present as ever, and there's a refreshing level of physicality being added to the Avs' play. With all of those factors in mind, Colorado enters Saturday ready to face the challenge of one of the best teams in the league.
Mikko Rantanen and the Stars return to Colorado
The last time Rantanen and the Stars played the Avalanche, it ended in a handshake line. Dallas eliminated Colorado in Game 7 of the first round, and the 28-year-old Finnish forward played a huge role in that. Rantanen potted five goals in that series and went on to finish the playoffs with 22 points in 18 games as the Stars fell in the Western Conference Final.
Now, the Stars visit Denver once more with much of the same core intact. Rantanen is picking up right where he left off, recording a goal and two helpers in the Stars' season opener. It was a chaotic matchup against the Winnipeg Jets that saw Dallas nearly squander a 5-1 lead in the third period, but ultimately ended in a 5-4 win.
With a renewed goal to win under first-year head coach Glen Gulutzan, the Stars are going to have to find their footing more quickly against the Avalanche and deny them the time and space to set up shop, which the Avs are so effective at doing.
All eyes will be on goalie Jake Oettinger to shut the door against the likes of MacKinnon and Makar, which he did successfully last season before allowing four goals on 25 shots against the Jets on Thursday.
This is the first of four meetings between the Stars and Avalanche, and there will surely be no shortage of action as are two of the highest-flying teams in the Western Conference.