This intense series between Dallas and Colorado has been quite the spectacle already in only two games played, and now the series shifts to the mile high city of Denver, where the Avalanche look to regain the advantage on home ice. The X-Factor for this contest would not only be the new environment these teams would have to play in, with the atmosphere of the Colorado crowd and the Stars needing to adjust to the altitude in Denver, but for what fans have been anticipating and waiting three weeks (or three years) for, the return of captain Gabriel Landeskog. For the first time since 2022, the captain would step back into the jersey he won a Stanley Cup in, and step onto the ice in front of the fans that have been rooting for him from the very beginning.

A sight to ‘C’ 🤩#GoAvsGo | #BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/IjAXSXBx0c

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 23, 2025

The ovation for the captain was loud and proud, as the “Landy” chants echoed throughout Ball Arena during warmups and anytime Landy would touch the ice right from puck drop.

The first period was loud and energetic, with Landeskog making a statement early, taking his shoulder to the back of former teammate Mikko Rantanen, knocking him off the puck as the crowd and broadcast booth erupted. The Stars were buzzing with them throwing hits and consistently hemming the Avalanche in their own zone, and any attempt the Avs made to break out and set up in the O-Zone was quickly denied and shut down by Dallas’ defence. Colorado took a penalty at right around the halfway mark of the first period, but then Mikko Rantanen would take yet another penalty for the Stars in the series and the game would quickly move to 4-on-4. With the extra space now available, Valeri Nichushkin worked his way into the offensive zone and with a quick move, found his way to the front of the net with no one around and buried it past Jake Oettinger to put the Avs on the board first.

BIG VAL GETS US STARTED‼️#GoAvsGo | #BuiltDifferent pic.twitter.com/z7NhLJ6QmL

— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 24, 2025

After the opening 20 minutes, Colorado was winning on the scoreboard, but it was apparent that Dallas was playing the better hockey. The shot totals were 14-5 in favour of the Stars, and watching the game, it was clear that the discrepancy in shots was a direct showing of Dallas being able to control the pace of play and work their offence in the O-Zone to put pressure on Colorado’s defence and Mackenzie Blackwood in net.

The second period begun and once again it was a complete dogfight. The Avalanche came back with lots more energy and were able to put more pressure on Oettinger and the Star’s D. The back and forth action led to multiple chances at each end, testing the goalies to stand tall and stay composed. At the end of the period there was a rush from Colorado by Nathan Mackinnon that almost resulted in a goal, but was turned away and a stretch pass across the ice back to Dallas’ Mikael Granlund transformed into a breakaway that beat Blackwood but would ring off the post and stay out to keep Colorado’s lead at 1-0.

The third period came around, and Dallas would get right back into form, putting immense pressure on Colorado. The Stars were on the powerplay in the middle of the period, and right after the Avs killed it, Nathan Mackinnon was called for an interference penalty and the Avs went straight back to the penalty kill and Dallas were granted a second chance right away. on their second chance on the powerplay in the period, the Stars would capitalize, after a Thomas Harley shot from the point would be tipped on the way by Jamie Benn in front and would redirect to the top corner and past Blackwood, tying the game with just over 10 minutes left to play.

With only minutes left to play, the Avs started to ramp it up, but Oettinger continued to stand on his head, absorbing any shot that came close. With about a minute remaining in the period. Mason Marchment would catch Brock Nelson up top with a high-stick, which would cause Nelson to begin to bleed from the bridge of his nose. After officials took a review of the play, they issued Marchment a double minor and Colorado had a four minute man-advantage, to end the third and potentially three plus minutes in overtime if needed. The Avs were unable to score in the dying seconds of regulation, so for the second straight game in this series, we would head to overtime.

The extra frame would start with Colorado trying to set up the offence, but Dallas put on display their elite penalty killing unit once again. Dallas even had a two-on-one opportunity on the penalty kill that almost resulted in a shorthanded goal if not for Blackwood’s impressive saves. Eventually Dallas was able to kill the penalty and were back to even strength, and Colorado would slip to 0-6 on the powerplay in the game.

Now back at even strength, Dallas would step up the pace and fire back with some offence, but Blackwood would continue to shine and keep the game alive. around the six minute mark in OT, the Stars would look to break out and Mikko Rantanen would chip a pass along to Mason Marchment who would skate the puck all the way to the Colorado goal line, before turning back and finding a cutting Tyler Seguin who would roof a shot just underneath the bar to put the game away and win the game for Dallas in game three.

Truly another soul crusher for the Avs, coming back home and getting your captain back on the ice after three years away, all the momentum was in their favour to win this game and they let it slip out of their hands. Blackwood as impressive as he was up until this point, can’t do everything himself. Colorado’s top-six is too talented and skilled to be turning the puck over in the neutral zone as much as they did, and it allowed Dallas to get way more chances than they probably deserved. With the looming threat of Miro Heiskenen returning for the Stars at some point in this series, Colorado cannot afford to let themselves slip and go down big in this series with the threat of Dallas’ best defenceman coming back to become a massive difference maker. Colorado without a doubt has the ability to rattle off multiple wins in a row, even when the series shifts back to Dallas, that’s just how good this team is, but going back to last year, the Avs have now lost three straight games at home to the Stars in the playoffs, and if they want a chance to keep themselves in this series, they have to break that streak in game four.

Winner: Dallas Stars

Loser: Colorado Avalanche

DAL Leads Series 2-1

STARS OF THE GAME:

T. Seguin: 1G, -1+/-, 13:56 TOI, GWG

J. Oettinger: 27SV, 1GA, .964SV%

J. Benn: 1G, 15:20 TOI