The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche were back at the American Airlines Center for Game 2 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Stars survived the Avalanche’s three unanswered goals for a 5-3 win. Dallas and Colorado are tied 1-1 in the second-round series.
The Stars’ starting lineup featured Logan Stankoven, Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Chris Tanev, Esa Lindell, and Jake Oettinger. Oettinger made 28 saves for a win. Meanwhile, Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev made 26 saves in a losing effort.
The Stars opened the first-period scoring with a power-play goal. Nathan MacKinnon was called for delaying the game with a puck over the glass at 13:53. Miro Heiskanen unleashed a snap shot into the Avalanche’s net for a 1-0 lead at 14:46. Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson collected the assists on Heiskanen’s second of the playoffs.
The Stars led the Avalanche 1-0 at the end of the first period. Colorado outshot Dallas 9-8 after 20 minutes.
The Stars opened the second-period scoring. Roope Hintz unleashed a snap shot into the Avalanche’s net for a 2-0 lead at 1:57. Nils Lundkvist and Mason Marchment collected the assists on Hintz’s second of the playoffs.
The Stars scored a power-play goal. Sean Walker was called for slashing against Evgenii Dadonov at 15:32. Miro Heiskanen fired a wrist shot into the Avalanche’s net for a 3-0 lead at 15:44. Jamie Benn and Roope Hintz collected the assists on Heiskanen’s third of the playoffs.
The Stars scored a short-handed goal. Tyler Seguin fired a wrist shot into the Avalanche’s net for a 4-0 lead at 18:06. Thomas Harley collected the lone assist on Seguin’s first of the playoffs.
The Stars brought a 4-0 lead to their locker room at the end of two periods. Dallas outshot Colorado 26-18 through 40 minutes.
The Avalanche avoided a shutout in the third period. Joel Kiviranta, a former Dallas Star from 2019 to 2023, scored on a backhand shot to cut the Stars’ lead to 4-1 at 4:05. Kiviranta’s unassisted goal was his first of the playoffs.
The Avalanche made it a two-goal game. Brandon Duhaime scored on a wrist shot to cut the Stars’ lead in half, 4-2, at 8:00. Andrew Cogliano collected the lone assist on Duhaime’s first of the playoffs.
The Avalanche made it a one-goal game. Valeri Nichushkin scored on a deflected shot to cut the Stars’ lead to 4-3 at 16:16. Artturi Lehkonen and Casey Mittelstadt collected the assists on Nichushkin’s ninth of the playoffs.
The Stars scored an insurance goal. Esa Lindell fired a wrist shot into the Avalanche’s net to make it a 5-3 game at 19:39. Roope Hintz collected the lone assist on Lindell’s first of the playoffs.
The Stars defeated the Avalanche 5-3 at the end of regulation. Shots were tied 31-31 after 60 minutes.
Notes
Three Stars of the Game
1. Miro Heiskanen (2 points: 2 goals)
2. Roope Hintz (4 points: 1 goal and 3 assists)
3. Tyler Seguin (1 point: 1 goal)
Thursday Morning
According to Brian Rea, Mason Marchment will return on Thursday night and Radek Faksa will come out for Game 2 vs. Colorado.
Saturday Funday
The Stars were in Frisco, Texas, at the Frisco RoughRiders’ South Lot with Victor E Green and the Dallas Stars Ice Girls on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central. Stars fans got their cars decorated and bought Stars car flags and Dallas Stars Foundation yard signs.
Up Next
The Stars and Avalanche’s second-round series will shift to Ball Arena for Games 3 and 4. Game 3 will be played on Saturday at 9:00 p.m. Central.
ITR 26: 2 Nations Fighting – Inside The Rink
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