The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars enter Game 3 of their Stanley Cup first-round series tied 1-1 after a pair of contrasting outcomes. Dallas dominated the opening period of Game 1, building a 3-0 lead, but ultimately lost 4-3 in overtime. In Game 2, the Stars again started strong but this time managed to hold on for a 5-3 victory, though not without a scare from the Avalanche.
**Recommended bets:** Home win (Colorado), Dallas +0 puck line, Under 6.5 total goals. Series tied 1-1 (4-3 OT, 3-5).
Dallas came out flying in Game 2. Alexander Georgiev was under constant pressure early, and the Stars opened the scoring on the power play after Nathan MacKinnon was called for delay of game. Miro Heiskanen found the back of the net with a slick passing play. By the end of the first period, the hosts had an 8-0 edge in high-danger chances, though shot attempts were even. However, Jake Oettinger made several key saves to keep Colorado off the board. Early in the second period, Roope Hintz doubled the lead on a similar play, and later Evgenii Dadonov had a breakaway that was broken up by a penalty. Heiskanen added another power-play goal for his third of the playoffs, this time with Georgiev screened. The Stars then made it 4-0 shorthanded when Tyler Seguin crashed the net for his first goal of the postseason. At that point, it seemed Dallas was again in control.
But the Avalanche refused to fold. Early in the third period, Joel Kiviranta pounced on a rebound to make it 4-1. Midway through the frame, Brandon Duhaime lost his stick, retrieved a new one, and then scored from the offensive zone to cut the deficit to 4-2. With four minutes remaining, Jared Bednar pulled Georgiev for an extra attacker. Valeri Nichushkin redirected a shot from Artturi Lehkonen to make it 4-3, setting up a tense finish. Ultimately, Esa Lindell cleared the puck into the empty net for a 5-3 Dallas win. Nichushkin extended his playoff goal streak to seven games, tying Pat LaFontaine’s NHL record. The Avalanche proved they can never be counted out, and the series now shifts to Denver for Game 3.
**Betting odds on the third game of the series:**
– Colorado Avalanche win: from 2.17 to 2.28
– Dallas Stars win: from 2.65 to 2.92
