StarPoints For 1/29 vs Colorado

1.)  Tonight’s matchup is the third of four between Dallas and Colorado this season. Colorado won both games so far, 4-1 on Dec. 26, and 4-0 on Jan. 24, both at Pepsi Center. The Avalanche have seem to have rebuilt on the fly, challenging Vancouver for the division lead after finishing the 2008-09 season last in the Western Conference. Goaltender Craig Anderson was the Avs biggest find in free agency last summer – he already established career highs in wins and games played earlier this season, and he was considered for Team USA at the 2010 Olympics.
 
2.)  The Stars have been hot at home this season, winning four in a row and seven of their last eight at American Airlines Center. At 15-5-5 on home ice, the Stars’ five regulation losses are tied for third in the NHL. Colorado played last night at home against Minnesota, and will be playing its first road game in 18 days.

3.)  Stephane Robidas is having a career year offensively, with career-highs in goals (10), assists (23) and points (33). The gritty blueliner leads the team with seven power-play goals, and is one of three Stars to play in all 53 games this season (Jamie Benn and Loui Eriksson are the others). Robidas picked up two assists in Tuesday’s shootout win against Calgary, and has four assists in his last four games.
 
4.)  Paul Stastny has consistently shined for Colorado, leading the team with 37 assists and 48 points. The 24-year-old has six goals and seven assists in 13 career games against Dallas, including a goal and an assist in Sunday’s matchup.
 
5.)  The Avalanche have the youngest roster in the league, with an average age of 25.8 years old. Rookies like Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly have led a class of seven rookies on the Avs current roster.  Duchene, who turned 19 earlier this month, leads all NHL rookies in scoring with 34 points (16-18-34) this season, and the 18-year-old O’Reilly has 18 points in 52 games.