Avalanche Avoid Elimination with 7-4 Win Over Stars, Series Tied

Nathan MacKinnon was credited with a pivotal go-ahead goal after the puck deflected off a Dallas player, helping the Colorado Avalanche secure a 7-4 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 6 and force a decisive Game 7. MacKinnon also contributed two assists, while teammates Valeri Nichushkin scored twice and Cale Makar, Artturi Lehkonen, Martin Necas, and Josh Manson added key goals. The Avalanche outshot the Stars substantially, but Dallas rallied in the second period with a four-goal surge led by Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen, who made NHL history as the first pair of teammates to each record four points in a playoff period. Despite Dallas's comeback, late empty-net goals from Colorado secured the win. The Avalanche avoided elimination at home for the second straight postseason, but face a challenging Game 7 in Dallas, where the Stars' coach Pete DeBoer has a perfect 8-0 record in such games and Colorado has lost its last six Game 7s. Both teams acknowledged the role of fortunate bounces in the game's outcome, with MacKinnon himself calling his goal 'super lucky.'