In a thrilling Game 6 showdown, the Dallas Stars secured their spot in the Western Conference final with a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. The game went into double overtime, with Matt Duchene scoring the game-winning goal at 11:42 of the second OT.
Duchene, a former Avalanche player, found a loose puck in front of the net and managed to send it past goaltender Alexandar Georgiev to seal the win for the Stars. The victory was a blur of excitement for Duchene, who described his emotions as pure elation.
The Stars celebrated their hard-fought win by blaring “Rocky Mountain High” in the locker room, setting the stage for their upcoming matchup against either Edmonton or Vancouver in the conference final. This will be the second consecutive trip to the conference final for the Stars, who are aiming to capture their second Stanley Cup title since 1999.
The game was not without controversy, as a potential game-winning goal by Mason Marchment in the first overtime was waved off due to goaltender interference. Despite the setback, the Stars persevered, with goaltender Jake Oettinger making 29 saves to keep his team in the game.
For the Avalanche, it was a devastating end to a tumultuous postseason, with defenseman Cale Makar reaching a career milestone of 80 playoff points in just 72 games played. Despite the loss, Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon praised his team’s effort throughout the season.
As the Stars advance to the next round, the excitement and anticipation for the conference final continue to build, with fans eagerly awaiting the outcome of their next matchup.