Preview: Stars at Avalanche, Game 6

It's Hockey Fights Cancer night at the Can as the Colorado Avalanche take on a divisional opponent, historic rival, and all around Not Very Liked Team in the Dallas Stars. The Avs story remains goaltending as Semyon Varlamov gets the start tonight, a day removed from his being named NHL co-second star for last week with J.S. Giguere. And maybe you did or didn't notice, but Nathan MacKinnon is leading the team in points with 6, including his first NHL goal on Saturday. P.A. Parenteau, Matt Duchene, Jamie McGinn, and Alex Tanguay are all behind him with 5.

Cody McLeod expects to play tonight despite taking an Alex Ovechkin bazooka to the knee on Satuday, and Tyson Barrie is expected to sit again in favor of Ryan Wilson.

Meanwhile, the Stars will be without goalie Kari Lehtonen, who is on IR with a lower body injury. Dan Ellis is in net. His backup should be American Hero Jack Campbell. In his only appearance this year Ellis had a .898 SV% in a loss to Minnesota. Since we last met these guys, among other moves, they unvealed new sweaters based on Starbucks and poker chips, added head coach Lindy Ruff, and traded for Trash Man Tyler Seguin, who leads the team with 6 points (2g4a) in 4 games. Adrian Dater's favorite player Alex Chiasson has 5 (3g2a).

Tonight's buzzphrases include Must Win, Hey Was There A Skate In The Crease Lindy, Four Point Game, and (of course)...

Fuck the stars.

Starting Lines (projected):

O'Reilly - Duchene SLAP FIGHT!!! + Downie
Landeskog - Stastny - Tanguay
McGinn - MacKinnon - Parenteau
McLeod - Mitchell - Bordeleau

Johnson - Hejda
Sarich - Benoit
Wilson - Guenin

Varlamov

Bad Guys (projected):

Jamie Benn - Seguin - Peverley
Whitney - Eakin - Chiasson
Rousse - Horcoff - Cole
Garbutt - Fiddler - Nichushkin

Goligoski - Gonchar
Dillon - Robidas
Daley - Jordie Benn

Dan Ellis
his #Problems

Go be nice at Defending Big D for the match-up from the southern perspective.

7:00 MT // 9:00 ET // 01:00 GMT
TV: ALT, FS-SW

More from Mile High Hockey:

• Avalanche goaltenders share NHL 2nd star of the week
• The Colorado Avalanche: News from around the NHL - October 14th, 2013
• Butcher Scores First Collegiate Goal as Denver Sweeps Merrimack