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)
MacKinnon gets credit for fluky go-ahead goal as Avs tie series with 7-4 win over Stars in Game 6
DENVER (AP) — Nathan 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.
The first-round playoff series heads to Dallas for Game 7 on Saturday.
On the winning goal, MacKinnon sent a pass into traffic in front of the net 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.
Valeri Nichushkin scored twice, including the tying tally with 13:58 remaining, for Colorado. Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas also added goals, while Josh Manson and Cale 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.
Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen, front right, reacts after the puck went in the net past Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, back right, as defenseman Thomas Harley looks on for the go-ahead goal awarded to Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon 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)
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.
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.
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.
Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin reacts after scoring against the Dallas Stars in the first period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) congratulates center Roope Hintz, after, after his goal in the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, front, checks Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen, back, in the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz, left, celebrates after scoring with center Mikael Granlund in the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz, center top, celebrates after driving past Colorado Avalanche defenseman Ryan Lindgren, front left, and center Charlie Coyle (10) to score in the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)Dallas Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel, center, is helped off the ice by trainers after being injured in the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) shoots the puck past Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley (55) as Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) covers the net in the first period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog, bottom right, shoots the puck as Dallas Stars defenseman Cody Ceci (44) and goaltender Jake Oettinger, left, cover in the first period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen, center, shoots against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, left, after driving past defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, right, in the first period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)Colorado Avalanche center Martin Necas, center, is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring in the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Thursday, May 1, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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