Stars-Avalanche thoughts

What a difference a few days makes when it comes to a game between the Stars and Avalanche. A different venue helped the Stars, who are tough to beat at American Airlines Center right now. The Stars having the energy advantage this time around was a factor too. That said, they were the better team this night.

Mike Modano was outstanding. These breaks he’s getting from practices are paying off. He was flying out there tonight and he’s been producing lately. Two goals against the Avalanche gives him six in the last last eight games. He got a favorable bounce on the first one, but I see that as a bounce he created with his speed.

The Brenden Morrow, Jamie Benn, Steve Ott line was really good. Created a great chance on the first shift and then scored the first goal of the game later in the period.

Alex Auld had a solid game and came up with some big saves. I thought the guys in front of him did a good job of keeping the quality chances down to a minimum. The team defense has been better lately and that’s a big reason the goals against are down and the win total is going up. Auld is making the saves he needs to make right now and that’s a key as well. He’ll probably go again on Sunday.

Colorado dressed seven defensemen and then lost center Ryan Stoa early in the game, so they were down to ten forwards, so they were basically a three-line team. I thought they started to look a little fatigued early in the third period and it wasn’t long after that Modano scored and then Morrow nailed Kyle Cumiskey with a big hit. The Avs appeared to be on their heels, but give them credit for hanging around it and creating some chances.

It was a big win (they all are at this point) because it helped them keep pace in the West. It’s tight right now. Not as tight as the East, where two points separate 6th from 13th. But the West has gotten much tighter in the past few weeks. Only five points separate 7th from 13th and the Stars are only two points out of a playoff spot right now thanks to this 5-2-0 run. It’s a dogfight and it continues Sunday when Dave Tippett and his Phoenix Coyotes come to town.  The Stars will be shooting for that elusive three-game winning streak. 

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