The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche were two of only four teams to play the day after the NHL's Frozen Frenzy, wrapping up a home-and-home that began Tuesday in Texas and ended Wednesday in Denver.
The Avs got the better of the Stars at American Airlines Center, winning 3-2, but Dallas got revenge 24 hours later, beating Colorado by an identical score — albeit in a shootout — at Ball Arena.
“That was a big boy game last night,” head coach Glen Gulutzan told reporters afterwards, per NHL.com's Ryan Boulding. “I thought last night we slightly outplayed them and didn't get any points. I thought tonight they slightly outplayed us in the third (period). I thought the first two were even.”
The Stars trailed 1-0 late in the second period before Miro Heiskanen knotted the score. Arttu Hyry then tallied short-handed early in the third to put Dallas ahead 2-1, but Brock Nelson answered midway through the frame.
Nothing was doing for either team in overtime, and Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson converted in the shootout to earn Dallas the extra point.
“They came out hard in the third, made a push. [DeSmith] was real good, and I thought it was a really even six periods,” Gulutzan added. “Actually, probably we won three, they won three. We got two points. They got three points. I think it was pretty even, but it's a big win for us.”
With that, the Stars improved to 3-3-1 in what has been a challenging start for the Central Division contenders. They had lost four of six — three of those in regulation — including two in a row before winning in Denver on Wednesday.
Article Continues Below“Always a good match against them, and I think we played really good yesterday,” Hintz said, per Boulding. “Just didn't get the result we wanted, so I think it was good to come back today and get the win.”
Following the back-to-back, the Stars and Avs won't play again until late January, when they skate in another home-and-home — in Colorado on Jan. 22 and Dallas on Jan. 24.
Up next for Gulutzan's club is a visit to United Center to play Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.