Photo Credit : AP Photo/David Zalubowski
The battle for points atop the Central division waged on in Colorado tonight with the Stars taking on the Avalanche for the third time this season. The Stars, who fought the New York Islanders into overtime last night at American Airlines Center, fell to the Avs 5-1 tonight, giving Colorado a much-contested two points in the division.
Dallas seemed to have a quick upper hand in the matchup with NHL newbie Logan Stankoven scoring his second career goal just one minute into the game. Stankoven battled Colorado’s Samuel Girard along the boards before freeing the puck and sending it behind the Colorado net and into the opposite corner where it was recovered by Wyatt Johnston. Johnston broke away from Colorado’s Logan O’Conner in the corner as Stankoven crossed the zone and posted up in front of the net to Avalanche netminder Alexander Georgiev’s left. Johnston sent the puck to Stankoven and the rookie sent the puck up and over the right shoulder of Georgiev for his second goal in three games since being called up from the AHL.
Dallas’ lead was short-lived though with former Star Joel Kiviranta scoring the tying goal just one minute later. Dallas defenseman Ryan Suter cleared the puck from the Dallas zone, but only to neutral ice where Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews recovered it. Toews passed it quickly across neutral ice to (another) former Star Andrew Cogliano as he advanced back into the Dallas zone. Chris Wagner and Kiviranta accompanied Cogliano across the line and into the zone, Wagner through the center and Kiviranta to Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger’s left. Cogliano passed the puck across the zone to Kiviranta who sent it toward the net, ricocheting it off the post with a resounding ping before it bounced into the net.
Just under three minutes later, the Avs claimed the lead. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon skated the puck into the Dallas zone with speed and took a shot on net that bounced off Oettinger. Artturi Lehkonen recovered the puck but was denied a shot attempt by Stars defenseman Esa Lindell as Suter attempted to clear the puck from the rush of movement in front of the Dallas net. Lehkonen, while sprawled on the ice, tapped the puck back into play and to Mikko Rantanen, who tipped the puck back to MacKinnon as he emerged from behind the Stars net. MacKinnon took another shot that bounced off Oettinger yet again, and this time back to Rantanen. Rantanen took control of the puck and slipped it around and behind a falling Oettinger and over the goal line, giving the Avs a 2-1 lead.
With 31.6 seconds remaining in the first period, the Stars went on the first power play of the night when Colorado’s Bowen Byram was called for tripping Joe Pavelski, but the Avs killed off the power play to start the second period.
With 12:51 remaining on the clock, Cogliano extended the Avs lead yet again. Wagner battled Dallas’ Jani Hakanpää along the boards before tapping the puck across the blue line and into the Stars zone. Coglinano grabbed the puck as it slid into the zone and skated it, unencumbered, through the faceoff circle to Oettinger’s right. As he approached the center of the circle, Cogliano launched the puck toward the Dallas net and it sailed past Oettinger, putting the Avs up 3-1.
But Colorado’s offensive onslaught was far from over, continuing just 49 seconds later. Cale Makar and Dallas’ Mason Marchment battled for the puck along the Dallas board to Oettinger’s left before it popped out and was recovered by Lehkonen, who tapped it ahead to MacKinnon. MacKinnon skated the puck around the faceoff circle and to the front of the net directly in front of Oettinger. With the puck on his backhand, MacKinnon launched the puck over the right shoulder of Oettinger and into the net.
With just under seven minutes remaining in the period, the Stars went on their first penalty kill of the night when Johnston was sent to the box for a delay of game. And just 55 seconds into the power play, Colorado claimed the final goal of the night.
Avs left winger Jonathan Drouin skated the puck into the Stars zone before drop passing it to Rantanen at the blue line. Rantanen skated the puck through the center of the Stars zone before passing it back to Drouin who had posted up beside the net to Oettinger’s left. Lehkonen had skated into the zone and advanced toward the net undefended and found empty space in front of Oettinger. Drouin slapped the puck to Lehkonen who was faced with a wide-open net in front of him while Oettinger defended Drouin, and slammed the puck into the net, closing the night’s score at 5-1.
The third period was largely uneventful, save two penalties; an interference call on Colorado’s Girard and a hooking penalty against Dallas’ Joe Pavelski, both of which were killed.
Dallas returns to home ice on Thursday to take on the Winnipeg Jets, who are currently tied with the Stars for the lead in the Central Division. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at American Airlines Center.
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