Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon extended Colorado’s lead in its Western Conference showdown against the Oilers with two first-period goals in rapid succession.

Give Moose his juice. Let’s say, eight years at $101 million. Everybody gets what they want. Mikko Rantanen, the good solider and Nathan MacKinnon’s literal right-hand man, becomes a $100-million player.

Avalanche forward Jonathan Drouin has moved on from the ugly overtime win against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night and is ready to face a highly skilled Edmonton Oilers team.

Dishes pair of helpers

(AP Photo/Matt Krohn) Colorado Avalanche left wing Jonathan Drouin, right, and Minnesota Wild defenseman Jake Middleton compete for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn ...

The Colorado Avalanche host the Dallas Stars after Nathan MacKinnon's two-goal game against the Edmonton Oilers in the Avalanche's 4-3 loss.

Dallas Stars (28-15-1, in the Central Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (27-18-1, in the Central Division) Denver; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Avalanche host the Dallas Stars ...

The Colorado Avalanche have already swung a few trades this season. But what will they do with the salary cap space they still have?

The Minnesota Wild feel a sense of urgency despite having nearly half a season left to play. After losing three in a row and four of their last five games, the Wild will look to turn things around on Monday afternoon against the host Colorado Avalanche in Denver.

But Colorado’s NHL team has long had a reputation for being a quiet bunch in the locker room, even when this group reached the top of the mountain in 2022. The 2024-25 edition started the season slow, bogged down by injuries and poor goaltending. It weighed on everyone. A generally quiet room seemed even more so at times.

Give Moose his juice. Let’s say, eight years at $101 million. Everybody gets what they want. Mikko Rantanen, the good solider and Nathan MacKinnon’s literal right-hand man, becomes a $100-million player.

The run of important games continues for the Colorado Avalanche, who welcome the Dallas Stars to Ball Arena on Saturday afternoon for a matinee affair. It comes in a run where six of eight games are against Central Division opponents,