Makar Scores Twice To Lead Avalanche Past Stars In Game 5 – Hockey Writers – Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche got two goals from Cale Makar to take Game 5 from the Dallas Stars and secure elimination from their NHL playoff series. The Stars will take a 3-2 lead when the two teams return to Colorado for Game 6 of their series on Friday, May 17.
The Stars got on the board in the first half when Jason Robertson stole the puck from Avalanche player Matt Duchene, who put it in front of the net, where Joe Pavelski headed it past Avalanche goaltender Alexander Georgiev.
Pavelski's goal improved his postseason total to 74-67-141 (194 GP), third by a US-born player. He moved within three of Chris Chelios (31-113-144 in 266 GP), who sits in second place. He also became the 13th player in NHL history to score 15-plus goals in potential series-winning games and the first active skater to do so, with Patrick Kane having 14.
Arrturi Lehkonen tied the game with a power play goal with one second left in the first half. Nathan MacKinnon recorded the only assist on the goal. He collected his third straight season with at least 10-plus assists and now trails only Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg (both with five) in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history.
Both teams exchanged goals in the second half. Miro Heiskanen scored on the power play before Cale Makar tied the game when the Avalanche had a man advantage. It was his 15th playoff goal and tied Sergei Zubov and Craig Hartsburg for the most by a defenseman in Stars/Minnesota North Stars history.
With just over a minute left in the first half, Casey Mittlestadt scored to give the Avalanche a 3-2 lead. It was the first Avalanche lead in the series.
Makar scored his second goal a few minutes later, but the Stars got a goal by Logan Stankoven to put the Avalanche away before the minute. MacKinnon scored with just over three minutes left in the game to give the Avalanche a 5-3 victory.
Stars Get Reinforced
Before the game, the Stars recalled forward Mavrik Bourque and defensemen Lian Bichsel and Alexander Petrovic from the Texas Stars, who play with Dallas in the American Hockey League (AHL).
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The 22-year-old Bourque received the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the AHL's leading scorer in the 2023-24 regular season, posting 77 points (26-51-77) in 71 games with Texas, and was awarded to Les Cunningham . He was awarded the AHL's Most Valuable Player for the 2023-24 regular season.
Bichsel, 19, began the 2023-24 regular season with Texas, where he recorded seven points (1-6-7) in 16 games. He was reassigned to Rögle BK on Dec. 4, 2023, registered four goals (2-2-4) in 29 regular season contests. He added six points (1-5-6) in 15 playoff games and scored one goal in Rögle BK's 1-0 win over Skellefteå AIK in Game 2 of the SHL Championship while the 32-year-old Petrovic tallied five and 17 goals. assists totaling 22 points in 70 regular season games against Texas this season.
With their win tonight, Colorado earned their fifth win in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, tied with 1999 for the third most in a playoff year in Avalanche/Nordiques history behind only 1996 (eight) and 2022 (ten) – two of three. years they won the Stanley Cup.
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