DALLAS — In a game that felt more like late April than early April, the Colorado Avalanche leaned on timely execution and airtight defense to blank the Dallas Stars 2-0, splitting a tightly contested regular-season series between the Central Division contenders.
With the loss, Dallas finishes 2-1-1 against Colorado this season, collecting five points across four meetings — a reflection of just how little has separated the two sides.
The tone was set early: fast, physical, and unforgiving. Both teams traded pace and pressure in a scoreless opening period before settling into a defensive grind. Chances were scarce, space was limited, and every zone entry came with resistance. It was the kind of game where one mistake — or one moment — would decide everything.
Colorado found that moment first. Dallas never recovered.
“Those are the types of games you’re going to see come playoff time,” Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan said. “It was tight checking, not much room out there. It felt like whoever scored first was probably going to take it.”
Goaltender Casey DeSmith did his part to keep Dallas within striking distance, turning aside 20 of 21 shots in another sharp outing. The performance marked the 10th time this season he has allowed one goal or fewer — matching a career milestone he previously reached in 2018-19. His consistency continues to stand out, with his goals-against average dropping to a career-best 2.38.
“It had that playoff feel,” DeSmith said. “Both teams defended really well. Offense was tough to generate, and they were able to capitalize first.”
While the scoreboard remained quiet for Dallas, underlying numbers told a more encouraging story in stretches. Defenseman Nils Lundkvist drove play effectively at even strength, with the Stars controlling over 72 percent of shot attempts and more than 73 percent of expected goals while he was on the ice at five-on-five.
Still, those advantages never translated into goals.
Physicality also played a role, with Colin Blackwell delivering a team-high four hits — his sixth game this season reaching that mark — as Dallas tried to create energy any way it could.
Captain Jamie Benn saw the game as a preview of what’s ahead.
“We expected that kind of game,” Benn said. “Tight, physical, not a lot of room. That’s what it’s going to look like down the stretch and into the playoffs.”
The loss underscores the razor-thin margin between two teams that could very well see each other again when the stakes rise. If Saturday night was any indication, goals will be hard-earned — and nothing will come easy.
