The Dallas Stars took control of their Western Conference second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche with a dominant 4-1 win on Saturday night. Tyler Seguin and Logan Stankoven led the way with two goals each, while goaltender Jake Oettinger stood tall against Colorado’s high-powered offense.
The Stars have yet to play from behind in this series, showcasing their resilience and defensive prowess against a potent Avalanche attack led by Cale Makar, Valeri Nichushkin, Nathan MacKinnon, and Mikko Rantanen. Dallas killed three power plays for the second straight game, with Seguin scoring the tie-breaking goal in the second period to give his team a 2-1 lead.
Coach Peter DeBoer praised his team’s performance, calling it a near-perfect road game in a challenging environment. The Stars’ composure and defensive effort were outstanding throughout the night, frustrating the Avalanche’s offensive stars.
Game 4 is set for Monday night at Ball Arena, where the Avalanche have been formidable. However, the Stars have shown their road resilience, boasting an impressive record away from home during the regular season and playoffs.
The victory gave Dallas a 2-1 series lead and regained home-ice advantage. The Stars’ ability to stifle Colorado’s high-powered offense, which had been averaging five goals per game in the playoffs, was a key factor in their success.
Despite the loss, Colorado coach Jared Bednar praised his team’s effort but lamented their ineffective special teams, which have struggled on the power play in the last two games. The Avalanche will need to regroup and find a way to break through the Stars’ defense in Game 4 to even the series.