DALLAS — Nathan MacKinnon delivered in a clutch moment, scoring his second goal of the game in overtime to lift the Colorado Avalanche to a thrilling 5-4 victory against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on Thursday. MacKinnon, who was earlier named to the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, sealed the win on a 2-on-0 rush, capping off a spirited comeback by the Avalanche.
Mikko Rantanen’s crucial equalizer with 1:09 left in the third period set the stage for MacKinnon’s dramatic overtime winner. “I thought we played a really solid game, a couple of breakdowns. But overall, I thought, we’re going toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the league,” MacKinnon reflected on the team’s performance.
The Avalanche (25-11-3), now on a seven-game point streak, also benefited from Jonathan Drouin’s two goals and Jack Johnson’s two assists. Goalie Alexandar Georgiev contributed with 28 saves, helping Colorado extend their winning momentum.
For the Stars (22-10-5), Tyler Seguin scored twice, and Matt Duchene and Mason Marchment each tallied two assists. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood made 29 saves, but it wasn’t enough to stave off the Avalanche’s late surge. The Stars faced a significant blow when defenseman Miro Heiskanen left the game with a lower-body injury, adding to the team’s challenges.
Colorado’s comeback began in earnest with Drouin’s two goals, including a power-play goal in the final seconds of the second period and a deflection off Johnson’s point shot. Seguin’s efforts had initially given Dallas a two-goal lead, but the Avalanche’s resilience shone through.
MacKinnon’s performance was historically significant as he became the second player in franchise history to score overtime goals in consecutive regular-season games, a feat last achieved by Greg De Vries in 2003. Additionally, MacKinnon’s 64th point surpassed Rantanen’s previous record for the most points by an Avalanche player before the 40-game mark since the team’s move to Colorado in 1995-96.
Despite the win, the Avalanche faced their own injury concerns, with defenseman Bowen Byram sustaining a lower-body injury during the game.
Colorado coach Jared Bednar praised his team’s response, saying, “I liked the way our guys responded. They just kept playing their game. Little bit more intensity as the game went on for our team, which led to some scoring chances.”
The Stars, despite a strong showing, will look to regroup and address the defensive lapses that allowed Colorado’s comeback. Dallas coach Peter DeBoer acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, “Their best players and their best line had all five goals.”
This victory underlines the Avalanche’s tenacity and ability to fight back in challenging situations, cementing their status as one of the league’s top teams.
UP NEXT
Both teams will aim to build on their experiences from this intense matchup in their upcoming games, with the Avalanche looking to maintain their winning form and the Stars seeking to bounce back.
