Recap: Stars top Avalanche 2-1 in third shootout
Some day one of these teams will win in regulation.
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 18: Goaltender Jake Oettinger #29 and Thomas Harley #55 of the Dallas Stars defend against Martin Necas #88 of the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on March 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images Stop if you’ve heard this before: The game between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars had to be settled in a shootout. For the third time this season not even overtime was enough to settle the score between these two evenly matched teams.
In each meeting this regular season the visiting team has won in a shootout with Dallas taking home the 2-1 victory in this contest. With the fourth and final regular season match on deck on April 4th in Dallas, guess it’s Colorado’s turn to win then? But for now Dallas leaves the state with the upper hand, now two points back of Colorado for the Central division lead.
The Game It was perhaps the biggest game the Colorado Avalanche have played in the entire 2025-26 season and felt like it. From the drop of the puck it was evident there was an intense focus and playoff-type determination as both teams knew how important this game was. The action reflected that, though maybe not as much on the scoreboard.
Despite only eight total shots in the first period there was back-and-forth action with a lot of blocked shots and hits to disrupt play and limit shots on net. Each team earned a power play as well with the Avalanche cashing in on theirs with Cale Makar’s 20th goal on the season to give Colorado the 1-0 lead at the first intermission. Makar 👉 Kadri 👉 Makar 👉 🥅 pic.