After a thrilling game one between Colorado and Dallas, the Avs pulled out with the 1-0 series lead after a commanding 5-1 victory. Everyone was firing on all cylinders in game one, with Dallas just not being able to find an answer to Colorado’s speed and top end talent. But now in what almost feels like a must-win game two for Dallas, the Stars and Avs met again for game two on Monday April 21 inside yet another ruckus crowd inside American Airlines Center.

Both Dallas and Colorado came out flying from the beginning, with the Avs putting Jake Oettinger to work early, and Dallas ramping up the physicality even from game one. With just under nine minutes gone in the opening period, Colorado found themselves on the powerplay and the puck found it’s way to Nathan Mackinnon at the top of the left circle. Mackinnon took a moment to corral the pass, then fired a beauty of a wrister to beat Oettinger underneath his glove to give the Avs a 1-0 lead.

In the closing moment of the period, Dallas had now gotten their own powerplay opportunity and were looking to capitalize before time expired on the clock. The Stars worked the puck into the Colorado zone, and Jamie Benn skated his way behind the Av’s net to find Mason Marchment waiting on the faceoff dot who would send a one touch pass across to Tyler Seguin, who would bury the one-timer to even the score at 1-1 with under a minute to play in the first.

After 20 minutes, both teams looked completely locked in, and Jake Oettinger despite facing many high danger chances early on, stayed composed and made very few errors in net. Dallas had appeared to be having a total turnaround game from game one of the series, and now it was up to Colorado to up the pressure even more and regain control of the game.

The second period got under way, and it didn’t take long for Dallas to strike again, as Thomas Harley would snap a wrist shot past Mackenzie Blackwood to give the Stars their first ever lead in the series, and make it 2-1. But in a shocking 180 degree flip, the Avs broke out of their own zone on the rush, and Logan O’Connor would send the puck from the corner to a trailing Jack Drury, who would rifle a shot that would fins it’s way past Oettinger, and just after the Stars had gain the upper hand, Colorado had completely shifted the momentum back to them and had silenced the crowd by tying the game.

Once again there was high intensity action in the final moment of the period, as once again with less than a minute to play in the second, it would be the Avs rushing towards the Dallas net, and Logan O’Connor would receive a pass in the middle of the slot on his backhand, and while fighting off the defender on his hip, would shovel the puck up and over Oettinger’s shoulder while being knocked down in the process and the Avalanche would end the frame carrying a 3-2 lead.

Give this puck some Vitamin (O)C because this goal is sick 🤧#GoAvsGo | #BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/6kjXxKShsh

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 22, 2025

Dallas had now found themselves working against the Avs and the clock once again in game two, and would need to really bear down in the third and final period if they would want any chance for the rest of this series.

The Final period of regulation had begun, and both teams played hard, Dallas trying to tie the score again, and Colorado aiming to shut down the Stars until the final horn. Under 10 minutes to play left, and the Stars would find their equalizer. After a shot from the point would hit off of Blackwood just outside the crease, Evgenii Dadonov would be waiting on the doorstep and would stuff the puck through Blackwood’s five hole, and level the score at 3-3.

Both teams would play hard physical defence the rest of the period, and this game would need overtime to decide a winner.

Just two minutes into OT, and the Stars would have an incredible chance to score, as Tyler Seguin would rip a pass across to a cutting Mason Marchment who fired the one-timer on target, But Blackwood would make the save of the game by pushing from post to post and going full splits, to rob Marchment and keep the game alive.

Time was winding down in the overtime period, and just when everyone thought the game would need double OT, Colin Blackwell would take the puck into the Colorado zone himself, rip a shot that would bounce off Blackwood and land just outside of his reach, allowing Blackwell to swoop back in and shovel the puck up top past Blackwood’s glove and deliver the game winner for the Stars. Blackwell’s overtime heroics were just what the Stars needed to get back into this series, and Colorado must have definitely felt some heartbreak after being so close to taking a 2-0 series lead.

However, all hope is far from lost for the Avalanche, as now the series shifts back to Denver, and after taking skate at warmups prior to game two, it feels all but confirmed that captain Gabriel Landeskog will finally step back onto the ice in an Avs jersey for game three infront of the home town crowd to propel his team to a win. Game three is slated for Wednesday April 23, at Ball Arena in Denver, and look for the Avs to come out swinging again with the fans behind them, as they try and retake control of this first round series.

Winner: Dallas Stars

Loser: Colorado Avalanche

Series Tied 1-1

STARS OF THE GAME:

C. Blackwell: 1G, 12:37 TOI, GWG

T. Harley: 1G, 2+/-, 35:54 TOI

N. Mackinnon: 1G, 1+/-, 24:53 TOI