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Stars Manage Home Split vs. Avs

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After a so-so stretch drive that saw the team play below its capabilities even in several games the won, the Dallas Stars entered Game 2 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche in a dire situation. Still playing without top defenseman Miro Heiskanen and sniper Jason Robertson, Pete DeBoer’s team rallied for a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 2 on Monday evening.

Colin Blackwell’s rebound follow-up of his own initial shot lifted the Stars to a desperately needed win. The Stars trailed 1-0 in the first period, very briefly (for 58 seconds) led 2-1 early in the second period and trailed 3-2 heading into the final 20 minutes of regulation after Logan O’Connor restored a lead for Colorado at 19:27 of the middle frame.

Midway through the third period, Evgenii Dadonov forged a 3-3 deadlock as he cleaned up a Wyatt Johnston rebound near the net. The Avalanche had been unable to clear the puck from their defensive zone, and paid the price. Dadonov jammed the puck past Colorado goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood to force overtime.

Tyler Seguin (power play one-timer) and Thomas Harley (wrist shot from the top of the left circle after strong forechecking work down low by the fourth line) also scored for Dallas. Goaltender Jake Oettinger turned back 34 of 37 shots including each of the final 16 salvos he faced in the final 37:46 of regulation and overtime.

In Game 1 on Saturday night, the Stars did not play poorly but lost the match by a deceptive 5-1 final score. The game was up for grabs (2-1 Colorado) until the final 7:04 of the third period, before the Colorado pulled away with three unanswered goals including a Nathan MacKinnon empty-netter for his second tally of the game. The game had been evenly played up to that point: a significant improvement from how the Stars had looked in multiple games down the stretch of the regular season.

Even so, there are no “symbolic wins” when trailing in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Stars were in trouble heading into Game 2, especially without Heiskanen or Robertson. Monday’s win was huge but the Stars still need to win two of the next three games to give themselves two opportunities for a closeout rather than having to scramble against a very tough opponent.

On Thursday, the scene shifts from American Airlines Center in Dallas to Ball Arena in Denver. Game time is 8:30 p.m. CDT.

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