The Dallas Stars just can't seem to catch a break when it comes to Game 1s. They've now dropped six in a row after a heartbreaker against the Colorado Avalanche. The game started with promise as the Stars leaped to a 3-0 lead in the first period thanks to Ryan Suter, Wyatt Johnston, and Jamie Benn. But then, it all slipped away. The Avalanche stormed back, netting four unanswered goals, including the overtime clincher by Miles Wood.
"It felt like we had it in the bag, but things turned on us fast," remarked Stars forward Matt Duchene. "We've seen this before in the regular season against them. We've got to regroup and come back strong."
The Avalanche's comeback was fueled by their prowess on the power play. Valeri Nichushkin and Cale Makar narrowed the gap, setting the stage for Nathan MacKinnon to tie it up early in the third period.
"They've got a killer power play," admitted Benn. "We've got to review the tape, learn from it, and move forward."
Overtime was tense, with both teams fighting for the win. Eventually, Wood broke away and sealed the deal for the Avalanche.
"We never gave up hope," said MacKinnon post-game.
For the Stars, struggling in Game 1s is nothing new. It's been a recurring theme, dating back to previous playoff series. However, coach Peter DeBoer sees it as a learning opportunity.
"You learn a lot about each other as a series progresses," noted DeBoer. "We had the lead tonight, but they're a quick-strike team. You can't afford mistakes against them. It's a tough lesson to learn, but better now than later in the series."
Despite the disappointment, there's optimism in the Stars camp. They've bounced back before, and they're determined to do it again.
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