League-best Avalanche try to stem Stars’ push for first place

The playoffs don't begin for another month, but Wednesday night will have a postseason atmosphere when the Colorado Avalanche host the Dallas Stars in a matchup of the top teams in the NHL.

Colorado has led the league for most of the season but losing three of its last four allowed red-hot Dallas to cut the gap to three points. The Stars won 14 of 15 games before losing at home to the Utah Mammoth on Monday night, their first regulation loss since Jan. 22.

The Avalanche led Dallas by 12 points at that point...