Stars vs Avalanche rematch in Denver after 3-2 Colorado win
Key takeaways
- Colorado beat Dallas 3-2 in Texas on Tuesday, October 13.
- Martin Necas scored twice and Mackenzie Blackwood made 24 saves.
- The rivals meet again on Wednesday night in Denver at 6:30 PM MDT.
The Colorado Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Tuesday. The game was in Texas. The two teams meet again on Wednesday.
The rematch is in Denver. It is the second game of a home-and-home set. Colorado wants a sweep.
Dallas wants payback.
What happened
Colorado opened the scoring in the first period. Artturi Lehkonen scored at 11:32. He shot from the slot. Colorado led 1-0. Dallas tied the game late in the period.
Tyler Seguin scored a power-play goal at 19:06. The score was 1-1 after one period.
Martin Necas took over in the second period. He scored at 3:05. He used a spin move and a one-timer. Colorado led 2-1. Necas scored again at 16:14. It was a five-on-three power play.
He scored from close range. It was his fifth goal of the season. Colorado led 3-1.
Dallas pulled one back in the third period. Roope Hintz scored at 3:17. He shot from the left circle. The score was 3-2. Dallas pushed for a tying goal.
Colorado held on. The final score was 3-2.
Mackenzie Blackwood was strong in goal for Colorado. He made 24 saves. He stopped a breakaway late in the second period.
He stopped a one-timer from the slot too. Colorado coach Jared Bednar praised him after the game. He called it his best game of the year.
He said it was the most physical game his team had played.
Nathan MacKinnon had two assists for Colorado. He also had a fight. He dropped the gloves with Roope Hintz early in the second period.
Hintz landed hard punches. MacKinnon got a cut on the bridge of his nose. He went to the locker room for stitches.
He came back to the game.
The fight had history. Hintz got hurt in a clash with MacKinnon last season. He missed the playoffs.
The two players are rivals. Hintz held his own this time. Stars coach Glen Gulutzan praised his top center after the game.
Why it matters
The win moved Colorado to 4-2-0. That means four wins, two losses, and no overtime losses. Dallas fell to 2-3-1. The two teams are Central Division rivals. They meet often.
Every point matters in the division race.
The game had a playoff feel. It was only October. But the hits were hard.
The pace was fast. The fight raised the heat. Reuters called it a game with a playoff feel just six games into the season.
Both teams learned about each other. They will use those lessons on Wednesday.
Colorado won with a short bench. The team played without Cale Makar. Makar was away with his wife, who was expecting twins.
Zachary L'Heureux was a late scratch. He had an upper-body injury. Colorado played with just 17 skaters.
That means 11 forwards and six defensemen. Most teams dress 18 skaters. Colorado still won.
Dallas had its own problem. Wyatt Johnston missed the game with illness. Tyler Seguin stepped up.
He scored a goal. He played his best game of the year. Miro Heiskanen played more than 25 minutes.
He had two assists. Dallas showed depth too.
What happens next
The rematch is on Wednesday night. The game starts at 6:30 PM MDT. It takes place at Ball Arena in Denver.
It airs on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. Radio fans can listen on Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM.
The goalies will change. Scott Wedgewood will start for Colorado. It is his second start of the season.
Dallas is expected to start Casey DeSmith. Fresh goalies can change a game. Both teams will test the new man early.
Both teams are tired. They played a hard game on Tuesday. They then traveled to Denver.
Colorado coach Jared Bednar spoke about that. He said both teams are tired. He said that makes it fair.
He called it a fun challenge. Playoff teams play the same foe again and again. They learn and adjust.
This rematch works the same way.
Dallas wants a split. A win in Denver would even the set. It would give Dallas two points from two games.
A loss would give Colorado a sweep. It would leave Dallas with no points from the set. The Stars do not want that.
The Avalanche won the first game 3-2 in Dallas on Tuesday. The Senators and Devils also played NHL action this week. The Sabres and Canadiens met in another early-season game.
The rematch in short
Tuesday: Colorado 3, Dallas 2 in Texas. Necas scored twice. Blackwood made 24 saves.
MacKinnon fought Hintz and got stitches. Wednesday: the same two teams meet in Denver. Wedgewood starts for Colorado.
DeSmith is expected for Dallas. The puck drops at 6:30 PM MDT.
Home-and-home sets are rare in October. They feel like a mini playoff series. The team that adjusts faster wins the second game.
Dallas must fix its power play and its starts. Colorado must keep its goalie hot. One more night will tell us who learned more.
Related stories
Why Is Altitude Sickness Worse for Some People?
Altitude sickness hits some people harder because of genetics, ascent speed, and prior history, not fitness level. Here is what raises risk
Why Do You Get Blisters When Hiking and How to Prevent Them
Friction plus moisture plus heat equals a blister. Learn why hiking breeds all three, and the boots, socks, and tape system that keeps
How to choose hiking boots for beginners: fit, features, and break-in
Beginners should buy for fit first: snug everywhere, tight nowhere, with a thumb's width at the toes. Here is how to size, test,