The Colorado Avalanche’s unbeaten run is projected to end on Saturday.
According to NHL 26, Colorado is expected to fall 5–2 to the Dallas Stars at Ball Arena.
Nathan MacKinnon and Victor Olofsson provided the scoring for the Avalanche and Scott Wedgewood turned aside 20 of 24 shots in a valiant effort, highlighted by several spectacular saves that kept Colorado within striking distance.
Mikko Rantanen led the way for Dallas with two goals, while both Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson registered two points apiece. In net, Jake Oettinger was sharp, stopping 26 of 28 shots to secure the victory.
First Period
Colorado registered the first shot of the night when Cale Makar snapped a quick attempt from the point, but Oettinger tracked it cleanly and covered for the stoppage.
Moments later, a turnover deep in the Dallas defensive zone created an early chance for Rantanen. He gained control of the puck, but Makar—demonstrating his characteristic two-way prowess—swiftly stripped it away before any danger could materialize. From the outset, it was a game defined by razor-thin margins and the ability to exploit opponents’ mistakes.
Offensively, Colorado dictated the early tempo. Through the opening four minutes, the Avalanche held a 7–0 shot advantage, applying relentless pressure as Dallas struggled to find its footing.
Nearly 10 minutes into the period, Martin Necas attempted to inject some individual brilliance into the Stars’ attack. Carrying the puck through the neutral zone, he split a defender with finesse, only to be dispossessed by Justin Hryckowian before he could advance further.
Dallas broke the deadlock late in the frame under chaotic circumstances. Tyler Seguin unleashed a wrist shot from the slot, which Rantanen inadvertently deflected. The puck caromed off Brent Burns and past Wedgewood, giving the Stars a 1–0 lead. Burns, visibly frustrated, slammed his stick on the ice in response to the unfortunate bounce.
Colorado answered just before the horn. Nathan MacKinnon intercepted a Thomas Harley pass behind the net and, in one fluid motion, spun and delivered a deft backhand through Oettinger’s five-hole to knot the game at one heading into intermission.
Second Period
Midway through the second period, Dallas intensified its offensive push, hemming Colorado in and generating sustained pressure. Yet Wedgewood remained a stalwart presence between the pipes, echoing the dominance he displayed against Utah. He turned aside a flurry of high-danger chances, including a spectacular sequence in which he performed a full split to rob Sam Steel at the crease, then stifled multiple rebound attempts to keep the game level.
However, a costly turnover at center ice proved fatal. Hintz pounced on the loose puck, broke free on a clean breakaway, and calmly finished to give the Stars the lead with just over four minutes remaining in the frame.
Colorado headed into the third and final period facing a 2–1 deficit.
Third Period
Rantanen nearly doubled his tally late in the contest as he surged into the Colorado zone with purpose. Transitioning deftly from backhand to forehand, he appeared poised to release a dangerous shot—until Brent Burns stepped up and delivered a thunderous hit, separating him from the puck.
Dallas capitalized soon after. On the ensuing power play, Steel extended the Stars’ lead to 3–1, unleashing a blistering slap shot from the right circle that deflected off Wedgewood’s glove and trickled across the goal line.
With 6:51 remaining in regulation, Victor Olofsson attempted to spark a comeback, snapping a sharp wrister from the right circle. However, Oettinger was equal to the task, snaring it cleanly with the glove.
Colorado’s uphill battle grew steeper when Joel Kiviranta took an ill-timed penalty late in the game, cross-checking from behind to hand Dallas another man-advantage while the Avalanche were still pressing to narrow the deficit.
Once Kiviranta returned to the ice, Colorado found a glimmer of hope. Olofsson, positioned in the slot, received a crisp feed from Brock Nelson and fired a quick-release shot past Oettinger, cutting the deficit to one with just 2:37 remaining.
The momentum was short-lived. Hintz muscled Makar off the puck deep in Colorado’s zone and set up Rantanen for a right-circle one-timer that ripped into the net. Jason Robertson sealed the outcome moments later with an empty-net strike, capping a decisive 5–2 Dallas victory.
The Actual Game
Don’t miss the Avalanche take on the Stars tonight at Ball Arena. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. local time. And if you’re not at the game, you can catch the game on Channel 9 and Altitude.