The top two point total teams in the NHL are set for a showdown tonight in Dallas, and one of these teams is going to have to say goodbye to their winning streak. The Avs have won their last 3 games while the Stars have won 10 in a row. Ten consecutive wins is a great accomplishment no matter the opponents, and not to denigrate what the Stars have done, but I'm about to denigrate what the Stars have done.
Seven of the first eight wins in their streak were by one goal. Three of the wins came against the doody Blues who sit in last place in the Central Division and are tied with Calgary for the second fewest points in the league. Speaking of Calgary, the Stars are returning to Dallas after drilling them 6-1 on Tuesday. Before that the Stars also laid a 6-1 beating on the league's worst team, the Canucks. So who did the Stars beat recently that was any good? Well, no one. They won in Las Vegas, but that happened in late January, and that was a shootout win. So this streak consists of wins over mediocre and terrible teams plus basically a tie vs. the Golden Knights.
These two teams have met only once so far this season, and it happened very early on. Way back on October 11th, the Stars won 5-4 in a shootout at Ball Arena in Denver. I couldn't help but notice (said in Larry David's voice) while looking into this highly-anticipated matchup that the league-leading Avalanche haven't seemed to take kindly to any team that defeated them in the first meeting of the current season. Let's take a look...
On October 23rd the Avs lost at home 5-4 in a shootout to the Hurricanes. The Avs visited Carolina on January 3rd and won 5-3.
On October 26th the Avs lost in New Jersey 4-3 in overtime. Two days later they hosted the Devils and buried them 8-4.
On November 1st the Avs lost 3-2 in overtime in San Jose. On November 26th they hosted the Sharks and demolished them 6-0.
On November 28th the Avs lost 3-2 in a shootout in Minnesota. They returned to Minnesota three weeks later and smashed the Wild 5-1.
On January 12th the Avs lost at home 3-2 in overtime to the Maple Leafs. Two weeks later they visited the Leafs and dusted them off 4-1.
Overall the Avs are a perfect 7-0 this season vs. any opponent who defeated them in their most recent meeting from this season. Just three days ago the Avs easily avenged a 2-1 shootout home loss to the Ducks by drubbing them 5-1 on the road.
So all of this is looking like the Stars 10-game win streak is in serious jeopardy tonight. Making the situation even more ominous is that powerhouse teams like the Avs can get bored with the regular season, and thus look for challenges to get motivated. Powerhouse teams in all sports LOVE the challenge of ending an opponent's long winning streak.
I'll be on the scary visitors tonight to avenge that home shootout loss from almost five months ago, and I'll also happily lay the goal and a half knowing that the Avs last thirteen wins have all been by more than one goal (average margin of victory was 3.3 goals).
I'm on the Avs -119 and -1.5 +203.
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