The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Tuesday night, October 13, 2026, earning a hard-fought victory in the opening game of their home-and-home NHL series. Martin Necas scored twice, including a power-play goal during a five-on-three advantage, to lead the short-handed Avalanche to an important road win.
The Avalanche vs Stars matchup at American Airlines Center in Dallas featured an exciting finish, with the Stars attempting to rally in the third period. Colorado held on to secure the victory and take a 1-0 lead in the regular-season series.
Avalanche vs Stars Final Score and Game Summary
The final score was Colorado Avalanche 3, Dallas Stars 2. Both teams scored in the opening period before Colorado took control with two goals in the second. Dallas managed to cut the deficit to one in the third period but could not find the equalizer.
Final score:
- Colorado Avalanche: 3
- Dallas Stars: 2
The victory improved Colorado’s record to 4-2-0, while Dallas fell to 2-3-1. The result also gave the Avalanche eight points in the Central Division standings, compared with five for the Stars.
Martin Necas Leads the Avalanche With Two Goals
Martin Necas was the standout performer in the Avs game, scoring twice to help Colorado overcome its injury-related absences. His second-period production proved decisive in a closely contested matchup.
Necas scored his first goal of the game at 3:05 of the second period, giving Colorado a 2-1 advantage. Nathan MacKinnon and Nicolas Roy recorded assists on the play.
Necas struck again at 16:14, converting a power-play opportunity during a five-on-three advantage. Gabriel Landeskog and Devon Toews assisted on the goal, which extended Colorado’s lead to 3-1.
The two-goal performance made Necas the key difference-maker as the Avalanche held off Dallas in the final period.
Nathan MacKinnon Helps Colorado Secure the Win
Nathan MacKinnon contributed an assist on Colorado’s opening goal and another on Necas’ first goal of the second period. His playmaking helped the Avalanche establish an advantage against a competitive Dallas team.
Artturi Lehkonen opened the scoring at 11:32 of the first period, finishing a play assisted by MacKinnon and Josh Manson. The goal gave Colorado an early lead before Dallas responded.
MacKinnon’s ability to create scoring opportunities remained important throughout the contest, particularly as the Avalanche navigated a short-handed lineup.
Roope Hintz Scores for the Dallas Stars
Roope Hintz provided a spark for the Dallas Stars in the third period, scoring at 3:17 to bring Dallas within one goal.
Hintz finished a sequence assisted by Tyler Seguin and Miro Heiskanen, cutting Colorado’s lead to 3-2. The goal gave the Stars an opportunity to push for an equalizer during the remaining minutes.
Tyler Seguin had also scored in the first period, converting a power-play opportunity at 19:06. Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen assisted on the goal, which tied the game at 1-1.
Despite the late push led by Hintz and his teammates, Dallas could not overcome Colorado’s two-goal second period.
Mackenzie Blackwood Makes 24 Saves
Colorado goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood played an important role in protecting the lead. He finished the game with 24 saves on 26 shots, recording a .923 save percentage.
Dallas generated 26 shots compared with Colorado’s 25, but Blackwood made enough stops to keep the Avalanche ahead.
The Stars also had the advantage in hits, recording 26 compared with Colorado’s 18. Dallas controlled 64.3% of faceoffs, while Colorado won 35.7%. However, the Avalanche made better use of their scoring opportunities.
Avalanche vs Stars: Team Statistics
| Statistic | Colorado Avalanche | Dallas Stars |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 3 | 2 |
| Shots on goal | 25 | 26 |
| Hits | 18 | 26 |
| Penalty minutes | 24 | 18 |
| Faceoff percentage | 35.7% | 64.3% |
The statistics show how closely matched the teams were. Dallas produced more shots and won more faceoffs, but Colorado’s special-teams execution and Necas’ finishing made the difference.
What the Avalanche vs Stars Result Means
The victory gives Colorado an early advantage in the regular-season series and strengthens its position in the Central Division. With Nathan MacKinnon contributing offensively and Necas delivering two goals, the Avalanche demonstrated their ability to win even with a short-handed lineup.
For the Dallas Stars, the defeat highlights the importance of converting opportunities into goals. Hintz and Seguin found the net, but Dallas was unable to complete its comeback after falling behind by two goals.
The teams will meet again on Thursday, October 15, 2026, when the Stars and Avalanche continue their home-and-home series in Colorado.
When Is the Next Avalanche vs Stars Game?
The next Avalanche vs Stars matchup is scheduled for October 15, 2026, with Colorado hosting Dallas. The teams will have another opportunity to test their divisional rivalry after the Avalanche claimed the opening game.
Fans will be watching to see whether Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas can maintain their offensive production or whether Roope Hintz and the Dallas Stars can respond with a win.
The opening game delivered a competitive contest, but Colorado emerged with the result that mattered most: a 3-2 victory and an early lead in the season series.
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