The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche are locked in a heated first-round playoff battle, with Game 5 set for tonight at American Airlines Center. After splitting the opening games, the Stars evened the series with a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory in Game 2, highlighted by Colin Blackwell’s clutch goal The Avalanche responded with a dominant 4-0 shutout in Game 4, shifting momentum back to Colorado ahead of tonight’s pivotal matchup
Tonight’s game (9:30 p.m. ET) could decide the series trajectory, as both teams vie for a 3-2 lead. Dallas aims to leverage home-ice advantage, with pregame festivities like the “Party on PNC Plaza” offering live music and fan activations starting two hours before puck drop Key players to watch include Stars forward Matt Duchene (30 goals, 52 assists) and Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (32 goals, 84 assists), whose offensive firepower has fueled their teams’ playoff pushes
With Game 7 looming if necessary, tonight’s outcome could hinge on goaltending and special teams. The Stars’ resilience in tight games and Colorado’s road performance add layers to this must-watch clash
