DALLAS — They’re not dead yet.
The Avalanche kept their slim chances of capturing another Stanley Cup alive Wednesday night, staving off elimination with a 5-3 win over the Dallas Stars.
It forces a Game 6 in their second-round NHL playoff series, which shifts back to Denver for the next matchup. It also snaps a three-game skid in the best-of-seven set.
Cale Makar played the hero here at the American Airlines Center by scoring two goals, including the game-winner.
“Obviously a do-or-die game from here on out in the series,” Makar said. “Each of us, we feed off each other. ... And I felt like we were back to kind of like forcing their hand tonight.”
![](https://media.9news.com/assets/KUSA/images/f758f34f-d0d9-4e6b-ae0b-f98e8ba59130/20240516T020404/f758f34f-d0d9-4e6b-ae0b-f98e8ba59130_16x9.jpg)
![](https://media.9news.com/assets/KUSA/images/f758f34f-d0d9-4e6b-ae0b-f98e8ba59130/20240516T020404/f758f34f-d0d9-4e6b-ae0b-f98e8ba59130_1140x641.jpg)
Casey Mittelstadt's goal early in the third period gave the Avalanche their first lead of the series. Colorado hadn’t led Dallas up until that point – as its only previous win was a comeback victory in overtime of Game 1 before dropping three in a row.
Nathan MacKinnon secured the victory with a late goal of his own.
“We knew we were going to get their best game in the series, and they did,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “Their big guys all are on the scoresheet tonight, which we’ve probably anticipated would happen.”
Dallas continued its streak of striking first Wednesday, which it has done in every game of the series, when former Avalanche standout Matt Duchene set up Joe Pavelski for the first goal – the 39-year-old veteran’s only score this postseason.
The Avalanche appeared to be headed to the locker room facing a 1-0 deficit when Artturi Lehkonen beat the first-period buzzer with 0.6 seconds left on the clock before intermission.
The Stars also had goals from Miro Heiskanen and Logan Stankoven.
Puck drop for Game 6 is scheduled for 8 p.m. (MT) at Ball Arena.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Colorado Avalanche
9NEWS+
Watch more from 9NEWS on the free 9NEWS+ app for Roku and Fire TV.
9NEWS+ has multiple live daily shows including 9NEWS Mornings, Next with Kyle Clark and 9NEWS+ Daily, an original streaming program. 9NEWS+ is where you can watch live breaking news, weather updates, and press conferences. You can also replay recent newscasts and find videos on demand of our top stories, local politics, investigations and Colorado specific features.
To download 9NEWS+ on Roku search for KUSA.
To download 9NEWS+ on Fire TV search for 9NEWS.
RELATED: Watch 9NEWS for free on ROKU, Apple TV, Fire TV
MORE WAYS TO GET 9NEWS
Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER
Download the 9NEWS APP
iTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunes
Google Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n
> Top stories curated daily just for you! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER to get can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.