Who’s the Most Responsible for the Stars Owning the Colorado Avalanche?
There are many reasons why the Dallas Stars have the Colorado Avalanche’s number.
While the games and playoff series are always close, Dallas always inches out the advantage.
They’ve met in the playoffs three times this far in the 2020s. Twice going the full seven games, and the other went past overtime in game six.
Since 2020, the Stars roster has seen its share of turnover. Guys who had an impact in 2020 will receive an honorable mention. Today, we’re going to be looking at the guys who’ve called the shots since 2024, including somebody who, earlier this year, was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes by the Avalanche. Only to be traded to Dallas not long afterwards.
Spoiler alert: it’s Jake Oettinger.
With all of the firepower Colorado has at its disposal, Jake Oettinger has always been there to steal games. Even when he lets in a ‘soft’ goal, he makes timely saves needed and shuts the door when the chips are down.
Even when Oettinger has a save percentage below 900 against a team with as much firepower as Colorado does, especially in Denver, Oettinger can give up four goals and still be the best player of the game. His efforts against the Avalanche in the playoffs the last two years make him most responsible for Dallas’ triumphs over Colorado time after time.
The Moose Got Loose
After the Avalanche couldn’t work out a deal with Mikko Rantanen under the salary cap, they decided to trade him to the Carolina Hurricanes for Martin Necas. After being a bad fit in the ‘Canes’ head coach Rod Brind’amour’s system, they traded Rantanen to Dallas for Logan Stankoven. A move that benefited both the players and teams.
In this case, this trade got the Stars to pull one out against the Avalanche in the playoffs this past season. While Oettinger gave the Stars every chance in net, Dallas still has to score. So Rantanen scored a hat trick and set up Wyatt Johnston’s series-winning goal.
Give Dutchy His Due
That second-round matchup didn’t reach seven games like 2020 or the first round of the following year. But it was as close to a seven-game series as it gets. Over time in game six, former Avs center Matt Duchene emphatically called the game.
One big question about Duchene’s second overtime goal is: which was better —the goal itself or the celly? While Duchene might not remember the celebration of sending his old team packing, that sequence will never be lost on Stars fans.
Remembering 2020
Despite the turnover since the bubble playoffs, we’re not forgetting the heroes of that thrilling second-round, seven-game series, starting with JFK, aka Joel Kiviranta. Despite the irony of currently sitting up with Colorado, Kivi had a moment as a Star that’ll forever stand out in Texas hockey lore.
We’re not going to mention Stars alumni/icon in Anton Khudobin. After Ben Bishop got hurt, it was Dobby who was the Stars’ most valuable player on their Stanley Cup runner-up run. In particular, making key saves to keep the Stars afloat in that second round against Colorado.
Buying time for one of the most iconic goals in the Stars’ franchise history.
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Categorized:Stars