After three much-needed days off, the Dallas Stars resumed their five-game homestand with game No. 2 against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night. The Stars had a fast start but later lost 6-3 to the Avalanche at the American Airlines Center. Dallas fell to 11-4-1, while Colorado improved to 11-5-0.
The Stars’ starting lineup featured Nils Lundkvist, Tyler Seguin, Mason Marchment, Matt Duchene, Thomas Harley, and Jake Oettinger. Oettinger made 32 saves in a losing effort. Meanwhile, Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev made 25 saves for a win.
The Stars got on the board at 10:30 of the first period. Tyler Seguin opened the scoring with a top-shelf wrist shot for a 1-0 lead. Mason Marchment and Matt Duchene collected the assists on Seguin’s fourth of the season.
The Stars made quick work of the power play at 14:21 of the first period. Joe Pavelski scored a power-play goal to make it a 2-0 game. Jamie Benn and Jason Robertson collected the assists on Pavelski’s seventh of the season.
The Stars led the Avalanche 2-0 at the end of the first period. Dallas edged Colorado 8-7 in shots on goal after 20 minutes.
The Stars wasted no time scoring 2:21 into the second period. Tyler Seguin sent home a backhand shot to give the Stars a 3-0 lead. Mason Marchment and Esa Lindell collected the assists on Seguin’s fifth of the season and second of the game.
The Avalanche finally got on the board at 13:27 of the second period. Miles Wood fired a wrist shot into the Stars’ net to cut the road team’s lead to 3-1. Ross Colton and Cale Makar collected the assists on Wood’s third of the season.
The Avalanche made it a one-goal game at 17:09 of the second period. Ryan Johansen tipped in a power-play goal to cut the Stars’ lead to 3-2. Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen collected the assists on Johansen’s sixth of the season.
The Stars held a 3-2 lead over the Avalanche at the end of the second period. Dallas and Colorado’s shots were tied 22-22 after 40 minutes.
The Avalanche tied the game at 4:19 of the third period. Valeri Nichushkin fired a wrist shot into the Stars’ net to tie the game 3-3. Nichushkin’s unassisted goal was his sixth of the season.
The Avalanche took the lead at 14:32 of the third period. Mikko Rantanen scored on a backhand shot to give the Avalanche a 4-3 lead. Devon Toews and Valeri Nichushkin collected the assists on Rantanen’s 11th of the season.
And, just like that, the Avalanche scored again to take a two-goal lead at 14:43 of the third period. Andrew Cogliano fired a wrist shot that found the goal line to extend the Avalanche’s lead to 5-3. Joel Kiviranta and Samuel Girard collected the assists on Cogliano’s second of the season.
The Avalanche sealed the scoring with a late goal at 19:30 of the third period. Ross Colton unleashed a snap shot into the empty net to expand the Avalanche’s lead to 6-3. Cale Makar collected the lone assist on Colton’s sixth of the season.
The Stars lost 6-3 to the Avalanche at the end of the third period. Colorado outshot Dallas 38-28 after a full 60 minutes.
Notes
Three Stars of the Game
1. Valeri Nichushkin (2 points: 1 goal and 1 assist)
2. Mikko Rantanen (2 points: 1 goal and 1 assist)
3. Tyler Seguin (2 points: 2 goals)
Youth Movement
The Stars have broken ground on their latest Children’s Health StarCenter multi-purpose athletic facility in Farmers Branch to grow the youth sports footprint in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Mexico City Maybe
According to the Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Stars look to be considered as the NHL seeks a game in Mexico City, Mexico.
Up Next
The Stars will welcome the New York Rangers to the AAC on Monday at 7:00 p.m. Central.
