NHL Playoffs: Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche Game 1 Recap | 05/07/2024

There was no rest for the wicked, as the Dallas Stars prepared to host the Colorado Avalanche for Game 1 of the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Stars fell to the Avalanche 4-3 in overtime at the American Airlines Center. Colorado leads the second-round series against Dallas 1-0.

The Stars’ starting lineup, which was the same as in Game 7, featured Radek Faksa, Craig Smith, Sam Steel, Chris Tanev, Esa Lindell, and Jake Oettinger . Oettinger made 22 saves in a losing effort. Meanwhile, Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev made 19 saves for a win.

The Stars opened the Game 1 scoring in the first period. Ryan Suter fired a wrist shot into the Avalanche’s net for a 1-0 lead at 7:26. Matt Duchene collected the lone assist on Suter’s first of the playoffs.

The Stars doubled their lead just three minutes and 29 seconds later. Wyatt Johnston blasted a snap shot into the Avalanche’s net to make it a 2-0 game at 10:55. Joe Pavelski and Jamie Benn collected the assists on Johnston’s fifth of the playoffs.

The Stars tripled their lead. Yakov Trenin was called for high-sticking against Jason Robertson at 15:56. Stars captain Jamie Benn deflected a shot into the Avalanche’s net for a power-play goal and a 3-0 lead at 16:56. Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen collected the assists on Benn’s second of the playoffs.

The Stars led the Avalanche 3-0 at the end of the first period. Dallas outshot Colorado 9-5 after 20 minutes.

The Avalanche finally got on the board in the second period. Evgenii Dadonov was called for slashing against Valeri Nichushkin, a former Dallas Star from 2013 to 2019. Nichushkin ripped a snap shot on the power play to cut the Stars’ lead to 3-1 at 5:31. Nichushkin’s unassisted goal was also his league-leading eighth of the playoffs.

The Avalanche made it a one-goal game. Craig Smith was called for hooking against Cale Makar at 7:37. Makar fired a wrist shot into the Stars’ net to score a power-play goal and cut the Stars’ lead to 3-2 at 9:08. Valeri Nichushkin and Mikko Rantanen collected the assists on Makar’s third of the playoffs.

The Stars brought a mere 3-2 lead to the locker room at the end of two periods. Colorado outshot Dallas 16-12 through 40 minutes.

The Avalanche tied the game at three apiece early in the third period. Nathan MacKinnon ripped a snap shot into the Stars’ net to tie the game 3-3 just 39 seconds in. MacKinnon’s unassisted goal was his third of the playoffs.

The Stars and Avalanche were tied 3-3 at the end of regulation. Colorado outshot Dallas 22-16 after 60 minutes.

The Avalanche scored the game-winning goal in overtime. Miles Wood put a backhand shot into the Stars’ net to lift the Avalanche to a 4-3 win over the Stars at 11:03. Colorado outshot Dallas 26-22 after nearly 69 minutes.

Notes
Three Stars of the Game
1. Miles Wood (1 point: 1 goal)
2. Cale Makar (3 points: 1 goal and 2 assists)
3. Jamie Benn (2 points: 1 goal and 1 assist)

Morning Update
According to the Stars’ senior writer Mike Heika, Mason Marchment skated this morning, and looks like he’s getting closer.

Up Next
The Stars and Avalanche will return to the American Airlines Center for Game 2 on Thursday at 8:30 p.m. Central.