The Colorado Avalanche were up against the Dallas Stars on Sunday night, aiming to close the gap in the standings. However, the Stars, who had lost all three previous games against the Avalanche, were determined to turn the tables. They dominated the second period, scoring three power-play goals and ultimately securing a 7-4 victory at Ball Arena, expanding their lead in the Central Division to five points.
The game started with a bang as Sean Walker scored for the Avs just under two minutes into the game. But the Stars quickly took control, scoring twice in the final minutes of the opening period to take the lead. Although Nathan MacKinnon set up Artturi Lehkonen for a goal early in the second period, the Avalanche struggled defensively, allowing the Stars to score four more goals and build a commanding lead.
Despite a late rally by the Avalanche, with Jonathan Drouin scoring to pull within one, the Stars sealed the win with a late goal from Wyatt Johnston. Alexandar Georgiev, in goal for the Avs, had a tough night, allowing four or more goals for the fourth time in his last five starts.
Avs coach Jared Bednar expressed frustration with his team's defensive play, noting that they had allowed a season-high in scoring chances and high-danger chances. He emphasized the need to improve defensively before the playoffs.
The loss likely means the Avalanche will face the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the playoffs, with the Jets potentially tying them in points with a win on Monday. However, the Avalanche can secure home-ice advantage for Game 1 by winning their next game, which will be crucial in such a tight matchup.
Notably, this was the first game the Avalanche played without Mikko Rantanen, who was out with a concussion. Rantanen's absence was felt, and his return will be eagerly awaited as the Avalanche look to make a deep playoff run.
Overall, the game was a reminder of the competitiveness of the NHL as teams jockey for position heading into the playoffs. The Avalanche will need to regroup quickly and address their defensive issues to make a strong postseason push.
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