The Stars have no choice if they want another long playoff run after making it to the West final each of the past two seasons. Dallas, still the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, opens the postseason Saturday night with Game 1 at home against rested Central Division rival Colorado. The Avalanche finished their regular season last Sunday.

Mikko Rantanen and the Stars will face his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

There could be two extra days off during the opening-round showdown between the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars.