MacKinnon nets 2 goals as Avalanche dominate third period to secure 5-1 victory over Stars in Game 1

Nathan MacKinnon led the Colorado Avalanche to a 5-1 victory over the Dallas Stars in the opener of their first-round Western Conference playoff series. MacKinnon scored two unusual goals in the second period, with one deflected off a Stars defenseman and the other off a falling Artturi Lehkonen. The Stars struggled to keep up, losing their eighth consecutive series opener in the playoffs under coach Pete DeBoer. Despite a brief comeback by Roope Hintz, the Stars were unable to close the gap. Notably, Mikko Rantanen, who was traded from Colorado to the Stars earlier in the season and recently signed a contract extension, made his postseason debut with his new team. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar also set a franchise record for the most playoff wins. Game 2 is set for Monday night in Dallas, with the series then shifting to Denver. The Avalanche’s dominant performance in Game 1 has set a strong tone for the rest of the series. Fans can catch the action and follow the schedule for the upcoming games to see how the Avalanche and Stars continue to compete in the playoffs.