The Dallas Stars are back in Colorado, and they’re hoping to leave the Avalanche there when they’re done.
Dallas takes a 3-2 lead into Game 6 of their first-round series against the Avs, facing off Thursday with a chance to close out Colorado and advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
It’s been a rollercoaster of a series for the Stars, who were blanked in Game 4 but roared back with a 4-goal victory in Game 5.
Can Dallas close it out tonight? Follow along below for live updates, highlights, game analysis and more.
Sports Roundup
Related:Celebrate the Dallas Stars’ playoff runGame updatesThird periodAvalance 5, Stars 4
Whoops.
The Stars score a brutal own-goal to give the Avalanche a third-period lead. A crease clearance gone very, very wrong.
Stars 4, Avalanche 4
13:58 left in the third: The slugfest continues as the Avalanche tie the game.
It’s former Star Val Nichushkin again on the rebound to knot Game 6 at 4-4.
18:30 left in the third: The Stars have successfully killed off the Avalanche power play and are back at full strength looking for breathing room with a 4-3 lead.
End of the second period
Dallas ends a wild second period with the lead but will be on the penalty kill to start the third period.
Stars 4, Avalanche 3
1:25 left in the second: The Stars score their fourth of the period and take their first lead of the game on what’s turning into a historic night for the Finns.
Mikko Rantanen, already with three assists, scores his first of the night to put Dallas in front.
Stars 3, Avalanche 3
12:19 left in second: And now the Stars have responded with their third goal of the period to even things back up.
Roope Hintz scored his second goal of the period after a nice feed from Mikko Rantanen along the boards. The Stars’ Finnish line is cooking.
Avalanche 3, Stars 2
15:26 left in the second: Just as quickly as the Stars tie it, the Avs jump back in front.
This time it’s Martin Nečas restoring Colorado’s lead 53 seconds after the Stars tie things up.
Stars 2, Avalanche 2
17:29 left in the second: It’s a whole new game as the Stars score their second straight to tie things back up in Game 6.
Roope Hintz was a big player in this goal as well as he found Mikael Granlund all alone for the score.
17:50 left in the second: Shortly after the Stars score their first of the night, defenseman Lian Bichsel lost his edge going around the corner and slid straight into the boards at high speed. Bichsel was down on the ice for several minutes before skating off under the assistance of Stars trainers.
Avalanche 2, Stars 1
18:42 left in the second: The Stars get on the board just 22 seconds into the power play thanks to Roope Hintz.
Hintz follows his own shot and is able to stuff it past Mackenzie Blackwood to cut Colorado’s lead to one.
19:05 left in the second: The Stars will get the game’s first power play after a tripping call on Brock Nelson. A chance to strike back for Dallas.
End of the First periodAvalanche 2, Stars 0
1:20 left in the first: Another odd bounce extends Colorado’s lead just before the end of the period.
This time it’s Artturi Lehkonen benefitting from a broken play. Suddenly the Stars are in a hole in Game 6.
Another weird bounce.
Cale Makar fans on a shot, and Artturi Lehkonen is in the right spot.
Jake Oettinger has been on, but Colorado takes a lucky 2-0 lead late in the first. Unfortunate for Dallas.
— Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) May 2, 2025
High danger chances 10-1 Avs in the first.
Oof.
— Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) May 2, 2025
8:15 left in the first: Other than the freak bounce past Jake Oettinger, the Stars’ goalie has been solid, stopping 11 of 12 first-period shots thus far.
Formula One pace to this opening period in Denver. Wow. Makar is flying. Avs’ transition game in full gear. But Stars are hanging in there. We’ve got a good tilt here so far.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 2, 2025
Avalanche 1, Stars 0
13:31 left in the first: Colorado starts Game 6 with a great bounce.
Val Nichushkin’s shot caroms off of Stars defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin directly into the Dallas net. The Avs strike first.
Pregame updates
8:23 p.m.: Here are the expected Stars lines for Game 6
Granlund-Hintz-Rantanen
Marchment-Duchene-Seguin
Benn-Johnston-Dadonov
Bäck-Steel-Blackwell
Lindell-Ceci
Harley-Lyubushkin
Bichsel-Petrovic
Oettinger
DeSmith
How was everyone’s pregame nap?
Mine was out of this world. Let’s go do some hockey.
— Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) May 1, 2025
Pete DeBoer said 80% of his pre-scouts this series focus on Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.
— Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) May 1, 2025
Pregame reading
— Dallas Stars’ Pete DeBoer gives promising injury update on Jason Robertson
— Avalanche coach Jared Bednar rips officiating in Game 5 against Stars
— 5 keys for Stars-Avalanche Game 6: Why history favors Dallas, Matt Duchene’s form and more
— Stars make key strides in physical game that will bode well for high-stakes Game 6
— After a quiet four games, Stars’ ‘money’ guys finally shine in Game 5 win vs. Avalanche
Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.