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 trick in Game 7 sent his former teammates to an early summer.Rantanen had five goals in 20 games after being traded to Dallas but nearly doubled that in the 18 playoff games, scoring nine times. He is off to a good start this season with a goal and two assists in Dallas’ 5-4 win at Winnipeg.”He’s playing with some bite out there,” said teammate Jason Robertson. “When he gets going, he starts feeling it and gets physical and that just adds another element to his game.”Thursday’s win was also the first game with new head Stars coach Glen Gulutzan, who was hired off the staff of the Edmonton Oilers. Gulutzan will lead his team against an Avalanche squad who has won their first two games.Thursday’s victory for Colorado was tighter than hoped, but a power-play goal from Nathan MacKinnon and a stellar night in net by Scott Wedgewood proved to be the difference.
