Dallas Stars game notes: Not much offense, 10 bells all around, & the Central gap tightens in win at Avalanche
Mar 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) makes a save against Colorado Avalanche center Brock Nelson (11) as defenseman Miro Heiskanen (4) defends in the second period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images The Dallas Stars found a way to steal the extra point and pull within two points of the Central Division lead in a 2-1 shootout win against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on Wednesday.
Stars lines Robertson – Johnston – Bourque Steel – Duchene – Benn Bunting – Hryckowian – Blackwell Erne – Bäck – Bastian Lindell – Heiskanen Harley – Lundkvist Bichsel – Myers Oettinger DeSmith Scratches: Petrovic, Capobianco, Hyry, Lyubushkin, Hintz (injured). Top story The Central Division lead is now just two points for Colorado. With one game in hand.
Sure, it would have been great to win in regulation. But stealing a point, especially in a game which Dallas was outplayed for large chunks, is huge. Since the beginning of their 15-game point streak in late January, Dallas has now gained 10 points on Colorado.
That is quite the accomplishment, as it is incredibly hard to gain that much ground, especially when the team you’re chasing never seems to lose. The Stars have done this largely without Roope Hintz, Mikko Rantanen, Radek Faksa, and completely without Tyler Seguin. I have already written about this, but it is just so dang impressive.
Jake Oettinger was great tonight, stopping 33 of 34 and all three in the shootout. The Stars defended very well, with each defenseman making a key play in a big moment. They stuck with it despite not having their best game.
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