Colorado had a stellar game 4 performance all around, that helped give them the win and tie up their first round series vs. Dallas at 2-2. Gabe Landeskog scored his first goal in over 1,000 games, and the Avalanche seemed like they had fully regained the confidence and control in the series that they had after their game 1 victory. And so the series moved back to Dallas, still deadlocked with both teams refusing to give an inch. So the matchup was set, American Airlines Center was rocking with anticipation for a pivitol game 5.

Dallas had begun the game as greatly as anyone could hope to start, winning the opening draw and immediately rushing into the offensive zone and Wyatt Johnston snuck the puck short side past Blackwood just nine seconds in. This would be the fastest goal scored to start a playoff game in history, and just like that, Dallas was in the drivers seat. The game was back and forth for the rest of the first period, until Thomas Harley would send a shot on goal from the mid slot, that would deflect off Blackwood’s shoulder and go high up into the air and would fall back into the crease area, bouncing off Blackwood’s back and into the net. Through the first 20 minutes, the game was 2-0 in favour of the Stars, and they just looked to be in full control, while Colorado looked to be feeling the pressure mounting.

Avalanche Head Coach, Jared Bednar was asked after the game about the team’s performance on the defensive side of the ice. Bednar said, “We definitely needed to get sharper on the defensive side early in the game, but we pushed back and created some good chances at the other end.” Colorado had given up two strange goals to open the game in the first, a short side tuck in the first 10 seconds, followed by a very unlucky bounce, but Colorado tried to get back into the fight by creating their own scoring chances at the other end.

The second frame opened up and Dallas would remain in control of the pace and keeping Colorado in their own zone. The Stars managed to increase their lead after former Av Mikko Rantanen notched his first goal of the series, and his first career playoff goal as a Dallas Star. Dallas went up 3-0, and Colorado already looked done in, with their backs completely against the wall and had to seriously bear down if they wanted a shot at a comeback. Artturi Lekhonen got the Avs on the board in the second, after Mackinnon fed the puck into the slot for Martin Necas, who rifled a one-timer towards the net and Lekhonen was waiting on the far post to tip it and redirect it past Jake Oettinger and pull the game back to a two goal deficit. Then just about two minutes later, it would be Nathan Mackinnon doing it himself to fight off Matt Duchene on his hip from the blue line, managing to work himself into the middle of the ice and rip a shot that would beat Oettinger glove side and drag it to a one-goal game.

The Dogg shoots and scores! #GoAvsGo | #BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/EJZYkXYXZg

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 29, 2025

The Avs showed signs of life, but the Stars quickly extinguished their flame with Wyatt Johnston scoring his second goal of the game and putting Dallas back up by two.

In the last few minutes of the second period, Mason Marchment would deflect a shot in front of the net that came from the point, and would make its way past Blackwood, and the Stars would close the period even better than how they came out of the first, now leading by three goals.

The third period was a physical one, Colorado for the game racked up 51 hits in total, and were trying everything they could to make up for being down big with time running out. With about three minutes left, Blackwood would abandon the net to bring on the extra attacker, in hopes of a late surge of offence. Unfortunately, the Stars would clear the zone and Roope Hintz would tuck in the empty-netter to put the nail in the coffin for game five, sealing the deal with an emphatic 6-2 win.

Stars Head Coach, Pete DeBoer was asked about how he felt about the win following their shutout loss in game 4. Deboer responded saying, “I’m not surprised by our response. We’ve got a proud group.” DeBoer also mentioned, “The last game, we played a poor game. It happens. In a seven-game series you’re going to have a night where you’re off. And we were off and we owned it and we fixed it, and we responded.” It was apparent that Dallas was off their game in their 4-0 loss on the road, but knew that in a series as brutal as this one it was bound to happen and they were only focused on rebounding well and coming back with vengeance which is certainly what they did in game 5. Rantanen has finally stepped up large in this series and has really come into his own playing with his new system in the playoffs, this is quite concerning for Avs fans if Dallas can get all of their star players to finally start clicking how they normally operate when the series shifts back to Denver in what is now a potential series clinching game 6.

Colorado has their backs now fully pressed against the wall, and they now find themselves in a familiar position, game 6 at home, down 3-2 in the series to the Dallas Stars. A total rerun from last year, and Colorado has to pull out all the stops to be able to force a game 7. Coach Jared Bednar was quoted saying, “we know the pressure is on, which is fine. Pressure is a privilege…I think pressure a lot of times can drive the best out of your team.” The pressure is certainly on the heads of everyone in Colorado’s locker room, but hopefully it’s just what the Avs need to put their game into a whole other gear, and fight on to see another day in the playoffs, when game 6 reaches Ball Arena on Thursday.

Winner: Dallas Stars

Loser: Colorado Avalanche

DAL leads series 3-2

STARS OF THE GAME:

W. Johnston: 2G, 1A, 2+/-, 21:24 TOI

M. Rantanen: 1G, 2A, 2+/-, 17:18 TOI

J. Oettinger: 26SV, 2GA, .929SV%