The Stanley Cup Playoffs are finally here, and so is the drama that comes with it. While most of the attention out West has been on Winnipeg’s insane dominance, there’s a nasty little rivalry brewing just below that. The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are running it back in the 1st round — less than a year removed from their 2024 2nd round war, which Dallas won in 6 games.
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Now it’s Colorado’s shot at a playoff payback and both teams are coming in with something more to prove.
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Date: Saturday, April 19, 2025
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Broadcast: TNT / truTV / Max
The Avalanche and Stars know each other very well. This will be the 7th time they’ve faced off in the postseason.
Dallas holds the upper hand historically as they’ve won 4 of those series — including their runs in 1999, 2000, and more recently in 2020 and 2024. The Avalanche got their revenge in 2004 and 2006, but it’s been a while since they’ve brushed past the Stars.
This year, Dallas has the home-ice edge thanks to a solid 50-24-6 finish which is good for 106 points and 2nd seed in the Central Division. Colorado wasn’t too far behind, closing at 49-29-4 with 102 points. So, it’s about as evenly matched as you’ll get in a 2-3 matchup.
As for the regular season, the Avs took the edge. They went 2-0-1 against Dallas, with wins by scores of 6-3 and 4-3 in OT. Dallas won just one time with a 5-3 home win back in November. Don’t be fooled, though. These 2 teams look very different than they did during those regular season matchups.
Game 1 goes down tonight at American Airlines Center, and it’s already got the feel of a coin-flip series.
When it comes to raw talent, few teams can match what the Avalanche bring to the table and when you see the names, it’s easy to see why.
Nathan MacKinnon put up a whopping 116 points this season spread across 32 goals and 84 assists — and has been in MVP form since opening night. He’s been the engine of the offense, even if his head-to-head stats against Dallas this year were a bit quiet with only 3 helpers. However, his playoff pedigree is no joke, and neither is his drive to get Colorado back to the promised land.
Cale Makar, as usual, is the undeniable X-factor from the blue line. He torched Dallas for 7 points in their 3 meetings earlier this season and is pacing for another near-Norris run. His mobility and offensive instincts make him a nightmare to defend, especially when he’s on the power play unit.
But the big storyline for the Avs might be Gabriel Landeskog. The captain hasn’t played an NHL game since hoisting the Cup in 2022 due to his lingering knee problems, but he’s completed a conditioning run with the AHL's Colorado Eagles and looks ready to rejoin the big boys. Even if he's not 100%, his leadership and physicality are game-changing and will be felt by the Stars. We’re not so sure he’ll put up big numbers, but it’s the non-tangibles that should worry Dallas.
Trade deadline additions Martin Necas and Brock Nelson have also added some real depth to the middle 6. With guys like Charlie Coyle, and Ross Colton, and a chance of Landeskog anchoring the third line, Colorado’s forward group is suddenly a lot harder to match up against.
The concern, as always, is in between the pipes. That’s where things get interesting for this club.
Alexandar Georgiev is likely to start Game 1, but his playoff numbers haven’t inspired much confidence from anyone. He’s had workload issues before, and if he slips, we won’t be surprised if the Avs give MacKenzie Blackwood a shot. Blackwood’s 2.55 GAA and .912 SV% give him a case for some ice time, especially with Dallas’ shooters lurking. They’re not going to let Georgiev fall too far before putting Blackwood in there.
If Colorado is top-heavy and explosive, Dallas is deep, structured, and battle-tested.
Matt Duchene has had a really strong season as he led the Stars with 82 points. Jason Robertson finished right behind him with 80, which included 35 goals, though his status in the first couple of games is in question due to a late-season knock (he’s listed day to day). And then there’s Mikko Rantanen, traded from Colorado to Carolina and then to Dallas, who’s already got 17 points in 17 games as a Star. You can bet he’s circling this series on his calendar. It’s one of the hottest storylines of this series.
The key for Dallas is that they have depth for days. 7 players cracked the 40-point mark this season. Their blue line is mobile and strong in transition. And their PK is a serious weapon, and we don’t just mean shutting down opposing opportunities. They’re #2 in the NHL this year, and they've racked up 12 shorthanded goals. You make a lazy pass on the power play, and they’ll make you pay for it when you should’ve been scoring.
Just like Colorado, there's a cloud hanging over the Stars too.
Miro Heiskanen — their top blue-liners and one of the most important players on the roster — is nursing an injury. His 28:43 average ice time is the kind of workload you don’t just replace with another player. It takes an entire line. Without him, Dallas’ defense takes a real hit. We’re not so sure he’ll be back for this series, but there’s a chance he’ll be around for round 2 if there is one for Dallas.
Jake Oettinger, meanwhile, has been steady in the crease. He finished the year with 36 wins and a 2.59 GAA. But against Colorado? That number jumps to 3.48. He’s been undoubtedly vulnerable when facing the Avs, and if he doesn’t elevate early in the series, the Stars could fall behind quickly and look to gain some ground in Denver.
Both teams have some pop on the power play. Colorado’s unit sits in the top 10 league-wide, with Makar and MacKinnon running the show. But the Stars have the better penalty kill and have been absolute pests when down a man. It’s almost as if teams don’t want the Stars to commit penalties.
Fortunately for the Avs, the Stars also take fewer penalties. Over the season, they were one of the more disciplined teams in the league — just 572 PIM compared to Colorado’s 660. That could be important in tight games.
Faceoffs, shot suppression, and TOI balance will matter too. If Dallas can control the pace of the games and keep Colorado’s top unit off the ice, they’ll like their chances in one-goal games. But if this turns into track meet hockey, the Avs have the speed and firepower to run them out of the building and take this series down to the wire.
Let’s not forget the emotional factor that is part of every playoff series. Rantanen facing his old team adds a little spice to an already tense matchup. But Colorado knows his game better than anyone — and they’ll be keying in on him all series. We’re not saying it’ll get gritty, but he’s not going to be able to break out like he usually does.
Then there’s the health battle. If Robertson can’t get on the ice, and if Heiskanen isn’t close to 100%, Dallas is going to have to lean heavier on guys like Wyatt Johnston and Thomas Harley. That’s not ideal when you’re facing MacKinnon, Makar, and a refreshed Landeskog. This will undoubtedly test their depth, which is strong, but we’ll see how strong.
On the other side of the ice, Colorado is walking a tightrope in the net. If Georgiev comes up short, the switch to Blackwood could go either way. He’s solid, but he hasn’t had a playoff start since his New Jersey days and he’s not always as consistent. He’s a grab bag. There’s a lot riding on early-game momentum here.
This is one of those rare matchups where both benches are in great hands.
Jared Bednar has a .627 playoff win percentage, a Stanley Cup ring, and a locker room that buys into his system. Pete DeBoer, on the other hand, has taken multiple teams to the Final and knows how to handle playoff adversity. Both of these coaches are made for this stage.
We expect heavy line-matching from both sides. Bednar will want Makar away from Rantanen when possible. DeBoer will try to keep Oettinger insulated against Colorado’s top-line rushes. Each game might feel like its own story and you’ll miss a chapter if you’re not paying attention.
It’s hard to pick against Dallas on home ice, especially with their depth and PK unit. But if Heiskanen misses games — or is simply not himself — it shifts the entire equation.
Colorado has top-end talent and they’re firing on all cylinders with momentum from late-season acquisitions and a potential emotional jolt from Landeskog’s return. MacKinnon and Makar don’t need much space to take over a series, and if the Avs get even average goaltending, that might be enough to get them to the 2nd round.
So while the Stars will keep it close and probably take a couple of games in Dallas, this feels like a revenge spot for Colorado.
BettorsInsider’s Prediction: Avalanche in 6
If they can take advantage of early mismatches and steal one of the first 2 games in Dallas, they could easily close this out before Game 7. But don’t be surprised if every game feels like a mini-war. This one’s going to be physical, fast, and full of fireworks.
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