The Dallas Stars crashed to a 5-1 loss against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs on Saturday, April 19. While there’s a lot to unpack about the loss, it also cemented the Stars’ reputation as slow starters in the postseason.
Hockey analysts and fans are divided over whether the Stars will turn things around in Game 2 or whether their recent poor form (3-5-2 in the final stretch of the regular season) will continue.
Dallas Stars Closing In on an Unwanted Record After Defeat to Avalanche
ESPN writer Greg Wyshynski posted that Saturday’s loss was the Dallas Stars’ eighth straight defeat in a Game 1.
Their Stats and Info division highlighted that this is just two behind the NHL record of 10 straight losses in an opening game of a series, a dubious distinction shared by the New York Rangers (1994-06) and Toronto Maple Leafs (1965-75).
According to ESPN Stats and Info, the Dallas Stars' 8th straight loss in a Game 1 is two behind the NHL record of 10 straight losses in an opening game of a series, shared by the Rangers (1994-06) and Maple Leafs (1965-75). pic.twitter.com/01IUhYKniW
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) April 20, 2025
Avs star Nathan MacKinnon had two goals and an assist in Saturday’s game. Artturi Lehkonen, Devon Toews, and Charlie Coyle also scored for Colorado, while goalie Mackenzie Blackwood made 23 saves.
“It’s just hockey,” MacKinnon said via NHL.com. “Prepare your best, do your best and see where the chips fall. I think that’s all you can really do. It doesn’t really matter if it’s Game 40 or Game 1 of the playoffs. [Blackwood]’s an amazing goalie. I have a lot of trust in him, obviously. He made some huge saves tonight. It could have easily been 2-2 and all of a sudden it’s 5-1. It’s a completely different game with his saves.”
For the Stars, Roope Hintz scored, and goalie Jake Oettinger made 19 saves during the game, where the No. 3 seed in the Central Division crushed the No. 2 seed. However, given their string of Game 1 losses, Dallas will likely not let their latest defeat demoralize them.
“I thought we played maybe our best game in a month or two tonight,” Dallas defenseman Thomas Harley said after the game. “Being down 1-0 in a series is never fun, but we did some good things tonight and we’ll look to build on that and continue doing that and finish off some chances in Game 2. We forechecked hard, we defended well. So obviously it’s not ideal going down in a series. But there’s a reason it’s first to four.”
This season marks the seventh playoff series between the Stars and the Avs. Dallas have emerged victorious in four of the previous six series, including last season when they defeated the Avs in six games despite losing Game 1.
Game 2 of the series will be in Dallas on Monday, April 21. (9:30 p.m. ET; Victory+, ESPN, ALT2, TVAS-D, SN360).