MacKinnon gets credit for fluky
go-ahead goal as Avs tie series with 7-4 win over Stars in Game 6
[May 02, 2025]
By PAT GRAHAM
DENVER (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon sent the puck into traffic in front
of the net. What happened next may go down as one of the biggest
playoff goals he's ever “scored.”
MacKinnon got credit for a go-ahead goal with 10:56 remaining after
the puck bounced off the shoulder of a Dallas player and the
Colorado Avalanche staved off elimination by beating the Stars 7-4
in Game 6 on Thursday night.
It was the bounce that kept the Avalanche from being bounced. The
first-round playoff series heads to Dallas for Game 7 on Saturday.
On the winning goal, MacKinnon sent a pass near the goal that Sam
Steel tried to clear. But it hit the shoulder of Colin Blackwell and
caromed toward the net. Goaltender Jake Oettinger couldn't corral
the fluttering puck with his glove.
“Super lucky,” MacKinnon said. “Hopefully we get more of those
Saturday.”
For the Stars, they're trying to “laugh it off,” Oettinger said.
Same with Valeri Nichushkin's goal to start the game that hit a
stick, then a skate and went in. Or Cale Makar winding up for a slap
shot, only to not get much of it and have it turn into the perfect
pass to Artturi Lehkonen for a goal.
“They got better bounces than us,” Oettinger said. “Just can’t make
it up. Obviously, (Blackwell) is not trying to knock it in our net.”
Nichushkin has been struggling in the series and taking his
frustrations out on his sticks. He got on track with two goals,
including the tying tally with 13:58 remaining. Lehkonen and Martin
Necas also added goals, while Josh Manson and Makar scored into an
empty net.
Makar, MacKinnon, Brock Nelson and captain Gabriel Landeskog each
added two assists. Mackenzie Blackwood made 22 saves to send the
first-round playoff series back to Dallas.
Stars coach Pete DeBoer is 8-0 all-time in Game 7s, while the
Avalanche have lost the last six times they’ve been in a decisive
seventh game of a series.
Asked if he liked Game 7s, Stars coach Pete DeBoer responded: “I'd
rather win in six. I like Game 7s at home — I can tell you that.”
[to top of second column] |
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, right, celebrates after
being awarded a goal with left wing Artturi Lehkonen, center, as
Dallas Stars defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin reacts in the third period
of Game 6 of an NHL first-round hockey playoff series Thursday, May
1, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado avoided having its season end at the hands
of Dallas in a Game 6 at home for a second straight postseason.
Stars forward and former Avalanche player Matt Duchene ended the
second-round series a year ago in double overtime.
Trailing 2-0, the Stars erupted with a four-goal second period led
by Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen. Hintz had two goals and two
assists, while Rantanen added a goal and three assists against his
former team. The Finnish standouts are the first pair of teammates
in league history to each record four points in a playoff period,
according to NHL Stats.
Mikael Granlund, another Finnish player, also scored in the pivotal
period. Oettinger turned back 41 shots on a night the Avalanche
outshot the Stars by a 48-26 margin.
“Both teams are going to be desperate,” Rantanen said of Game 7.
"It's a tight series. I'm expecting the same thing Saturday.
There was a scary moment in the second period when Stars defenseman
Lian Bichsel lost an edge and slid into the boards with Jack Drury
on his back. Bichsel stayed down for a moment before being helped to
the bench. Bichsel returned in the third period.
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