Stars host struggling Avalanche to start homestand (Yahoo Sports)

The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars renew their Central Division rivalry Thursday night at American Airlines Center, but only one of these clubs is currently playing good hockey. The Avalanche (12-21-1), who head into Wednesday's games leading the NHL with 112 goals allowed and have a league-worst minus-42 goal differential, continue to languish in the Central basement after a 6-3 loss to Calgary at Pepsi Center on Tuesday. The Avalanche, who are 8-9-0 on the road, got several bad bounces in that defeat, which makes them 3-7-0 in their last 10 contests, but first-year Colorado coach Jared Bednar knows that beside a lack of puck luck against the Flames, it was the continuing theme of several problem areas that helped doom their chances before a partisan crowd.