Tyler Seguin's Overtime Heroics Propel Dallas Stars Past Colorado Avalanche in Game 3

In a nail-biting finish, Tyler Seguin scored at 5:31 of overtime, leading the Dallas Stars to a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 on Wednesday night. This match marked the return of Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, adding an extra layer of excitement to the playoff showdown.

With this win, the Stars now hold a 2-1 lead in the first-round series, having secured their second consecutive overtime victory. Interestingly, Dallas has only held the lead for a mere 1:02 during regulation play throughout the series so far.

Seguin's game-winning goal came off a slick pass from Mason Marchment, who had just served a late double-minor penalty for a high stick that caught Brock Nelson in the face. Seguin deftly maneuvered the puck past Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, sealing the deal for the Stars.

Stars head coach Pete DeBoer praised his team's performance, particularly their penalty-killing efforts, which have ranked among the best in the league over the past three years. "We felt confident going into overtime that we could get the job done. And if we did, I think there was a good feeling that we were going to win the game," DeBoer stated. He also highlighted the emotional weight of the moment for Marchment, saying, "Knowing Mason and how he was feeling about that penalty, you couldn't have written a better script for how it ended."

This goal marked Seguin's second career overtime playoff goal, with his first coming back in 2012 while he was with the Boston Bruins. Reflecting on the game, Seguin remarked, "There's so much more tonight than that goal. It's the penalty kill, it's the details of the game of what the guys did. ... I was just the beneficiary of it. Collectively, just a great road win by the guys."

Defensively, Stars player Esa Lindell made a crucial play in overtime, deflecting a shot from Artturi Lehkonen that could have changed the game’s momentum. Meanwhile, Jamie Benn tied the game for Dallas midway through the third period, and goalie Jake Oettinger was solid in net, stopping 27 shots.

For Colorado, Valeri Nichushkin opened the scoring in the first period, but the Avalanche struggled to capitalize on their power play opportunities, finishing 0 for 6. When asked about improving their performance with the skater advantage, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar simply stated, "everything."

The night was particularly special for Landeskog, who received a warm welcome from the crowd in his first NHL game since June 26, 2022, when he helped the Avalanche clinch the Stanley Cup against Tampa Bay. After being sidelined due to a chronic knee injury, Landeskog's return was a significant moment, as it had been 1,032 days since his last game. He became the fifth player in NHL history to return after a hiatus of 1,000 or more days, having played over 700 games in his career.

In his comeback, Landeskog logged more than 13 minutes on the ice and led his team with six hits. "Felt great in all areas tonight in terms of being back," he said. "Very special night regardless of the outcome."

As the series continues, Game 4 is set for Saturday night in Denver, where both teams will look to gain the upper hand in this thrilling playoff matchup.