DENVER, Colo. (Oct. 11, 2025)  — The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche renewed their budding rivalry Saturday night at Ball Arena, and it lived up to every bit of the hype. In a game that had all the emotion and intensity of a playoff rematch, the Stars edged the Avalanche 5–4 in a shootout, thanks to clutch scoring from Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen, and stellar goaltending from Jake Oettinger, who sealed the win with a save on Nathan MacKinnon’s final attempt.

Oettinger was sensational all night, making 35 saves through regulation and overtime, then stopping two of three in the shootout to lift Dallas to a perfect 2–0–0 start. The victory spoiled a milestone night for Colorado defenseman Brent Burns, who recorded an assist in his 1,500th NHL game — becoming just the eighth defenseman and 23rd player in league history to reach that mark.

Back-and-Forth Battle in the Mile High City

From the opening puck drop, the contest carried a postseason atmosphere. Heavy hits, after-the-whistle scrums, and lead changes defined the night as both teams traded momentum throughout.

Dallas struck first midway through the first period when Thomas Harley hammered home a point shot for his first goal of the season. But the Avalanche responded just 1:37 later, as Marty Nečas found the back of the net for his third of the year to tie things up.

Colorado rookie Gavin Brindley gave the Avalanche a 2–1 lead in the second period, scoring his first career NHL goal to ignite the Ball Arena crowd. But the Stars answered quickly — and emphatically.

Just over three minutes later, Nathan Bastian tied it with a rebound putback before Jason Robertson buried a wrist shot to put Dallas up 3–2. The two goals came only 3:03 apart, giving the Stars their first lead of the night and flipping the game’s momentum heading into the third.

Trading Blows Late

The Avalanche wouldn’t go quietly. Artturi Lehkonen tied the game just 34 seconds into the third period, pouncing on a loose puck in front of the net. Dallas’ response was immediate — Wyatt Johnston capitalized on a breakaway just 84 seconds later, slipping the puck past backup goaltender Scott Wedgewood, who had replaced starter Alexandar Georgiev after the second intermission.

But with the crowd roaring and the Avalanche pressing, MacKinnon evened the score again midway through the third with a power-play goal, his first of the season. His blast from the left circle made it 4–4 and capped a three-point night (1G, 2A) for the Colorado captain.

Neither team could break the deadlock in overtime despite multiple quality chances — including a spectacular glove save by Oettinger on a one-timer from Cale Makar — setting up the dramatic shootout finish.

Shootout Showdown

Robertson struck first for Dallas in the shootout, deking Wedgewood forehand-backhand before tucking the puck in glove side. Rantanen, facing his former club for the first time in Colorado since joining Dallas, sealed it moments later with a laser to the top corner.

Oettinger then denied both MacKinnon and Nečas to secure the win, punctuating one of the early season’s most entertaining games.

“Tonight was kind of like holding back an avalanche — literally,” Harley said afterward. “But when you’ve got Jake [Oettinger] back there, you know he’s going to give you a chance. We’ll take the two points and move on, but we’ve got to clean up some things.”

Stars Shine Bright

In addition to Harley’s goal and assist, Dallas got balanced production throughout its lineup. Robertson continued his hot start with a goal and a shootout tally, while Johnston and Bastian both found the scoresheet. Rantanen, who famously scored a Game 7 hat trick last postseason against Colorado, now has two points in as many games with his new team.

“It was emotional coming back here,” Rantanen said. “Colorado was a big part of my career, but I’m a Star now — and I’m proud of the way we battled tonight.”

Avalanche Notes

Despite the loss, Colorado showed its trademark resilience. MacKinnon’s performance gave him his 99th career three-point game, leaving him just one shy of joining Joe Sakic and Peter Šťastný in the franchise’s exclusive 100-game club. His 14-game home point streak vs. Dallas also remains intact — tied for the second-longest active streak in the NHL against a single opponent.

Burns, meanwhile, played 20:35 with three shots on goal and extended his ironman streak to 928 games, fourth-longest in NHL history.

Up Next

The Stars return home Tuesday for their 2025–26 home opener against the Minnesota Wild, while the Avalanche travel to face Vegas in another Western Conference clash.

Final: Stars 5, Avalanche 4 (SO)
Dallas improves to 2–0–0, while Colorado falls to 2–0–1 — in a game that already felt like spring hockey in October.