The Colorado Avalanche have been in a championship window for several years, but that window was slammed shut by the Dallas Stars in each of the past two seasons.

Last season was particularly painful for the Avalanche, who blew a 2-0 lead in the third period of Game 7. Saturday night the rivalry resumes when the Stars arrive in Denver for their first meeting of the season.

Thursday night the Avalanche celebrated their home opener with a tense 2-1 win over Utah while Dallas beat Winnipeg on the road that same night in the Stars' first game of the season.

Saturday night will also be Mikko Rantanen's second regular-season game against the team he spent his first nine-plus seasons with before Colorado traded him to Carolina in January. Rantanen was later dealt to the Stars, and his hat tric

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