The Colorado Avalanche erased a 3-0 deficit to win Game 1 of their second round series of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Dallas Stars in comeback fashion.
The Stars looked like they were going to keep their momentum rolling fresh off of a thrilling Game 7 win over the defending Stanley Cup champs from Vegas, but the 2022 champs had other ideas.
Colorado got a break before the second round after handling Winnipeg in just five games, and they shook off their early rust quickly with one of the most dramatic wins of the playoffs so far.
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It was a party in Dallas early in Game 1, as the Stars rolled over their energy from Game 7 just a few nights ago to punch the Avs in the mouth in the early going.
Veteran defenseman Ryan Suter drew the first blood of the series with a goal to make it 1-0, and young star Wyatt Johnston made it 2-0, continuing his torrid scoring pace in the playoffs in the process.
Captain Jamie Benn then tipped one home on the power play at the tail end of the period to give the home team a commanding 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Unfortunately for the Stars, that was the last time they'd score in the game, as Colorado goalie Alexandar Georgiev and the team's defense locked into place as the team's offense got to work.
Former Star Valeri Nichushkin scored to start the rally for Colorado, and the Avalanche struck again on the power play less than five minutes later when super star defenseman Cale Makar buried one.
Dallas clung to the lead for the rest of the second, but Nathan MacKinnon made his mark with an early goal to tie it in the third, and Miles Wood found the overtime winner even as Dallas outplayed Colorado in the extra frame.
With the win, the Avalanche have stolen home ice and put the Stars behind the eight ball for the second consecutive series, as Vegas took the first two in Dallas in the last round.
The Stars are good enough to rally again, but losing Game 2 would be tempting fate in a major way.
READ MORE: Young Super Star Wyatt Johnston Leads Dallas to Game 7 Win Over Golden Knights
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