Serving Humble Pie Since 1995

On March 18, 2026, the Colorado Avalanch hosted the Dallas Stars on national TV. It was very extra special for this Avs fan, as that day was my birthday. The game was close throughout; Avs led 1-0 after 20, game tied at 1 after 40, after 60, and even after 65. Game to a shootout, and the Stars won it. Stars moved within two points of the Avs in the Central, and boy were Stars fans pounding their chests. If you ask them, it was a foregone conclusion that they would overtake the Avs in the Central.

My thought: "We'll get 'em on April 4."

Jump ahead 17 days. The penultimate Saturday of the regular season. The Avalanche and Stars' final meeting of the regular season, this time in Dallas. The Avs rebounded from that loss on my birthday, but the Stars went in the opposite direction. Even so, Dallas still had a good chance to make up for it. The Avs were coming off a stunning home loss to the Canucks, 8-6, and we are without Cale Makar, as he was hurt in the game against Calgary.

Scott Wedgewood was in net against Casey DeSmith. First period didn't see too much shooting. Avs had the first PP, but it was killed off. Dallas ended up outshooting us 6-4, but after 20 minutes, it remained scoreless. It got interesting in the 2nd period. Dallas received their first power play, and things got testy with two seconds left in that PP. It resulted in matching roughing minors (the right call), and that PP being knocked off. Jamie Benn got away with tripping MacKinnon, who responded with a tap to Jamie's face that said, "I have a Cup and you don't." Beautiful! Period 2 had everything, except a goal. Still no score after 40.

3rd period felt like overtime damn near. You know that scene from "Treehouse of Horror II" where Homer sneaks up behind Bart and in his head, he's telling himself not to think, make a sound, or even blink? That was me to the Avs in this period. This game was too important. I didn't want the Avs to make any mistakes here. No false moves. Don't even breathe on the Stars. No, the refs weren't a real factor in this one, but still. And then, Brock Nelson hooked Jason Robertson. Oh God. It was a dive, but still. Stars penalty was killed off, it was still scoreless with the third period half over, but at 10:39, we finally broke the ice! Martin Necas scored his 36th of the season, from Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews, an easy tap in!

Avs went up 1-0, and Dallas was trying to press hard. So were the Avs, thank goodness. With about two and a half minutes left, DeSmith was pulled for the extra attacker, and Dallas was really controlling the puck. Necas managed to shoot it down the length of the ice, and I was happy to accept the icing penalty to slow down the momentum. Funny thing. It ended up not being icing because Nathan MacKinnon beat two Stars to the puck, and put it in the empty net for his 51st goal of the season!

Is there anything more beautiful than beating the Dallas Stars? Well, yes, there is. There's beating them in Dallas. Actually, even better. There's shutting them out in Dallas. Actually, even better than that: there's shutting them out in Dallas without Cale Makar. Stars fans actually thought their team could sit with us after that win on March 18. News flash: you guys are 2-5-2 since then, and when you had the chance to make your mark against us, you disappeared. 17 shots on goal. Wedgewood had a tougher time against the Flames than he did against Dallas. The Central is over. The Avs are two points (that's one win) away from winning the Central and the #1 seed in the West (at least). Stars fans, focus on hoping your team stays ahead of Minnesota but realizing that the Wild will beat you guys out anyway.

As for us, Sunday could be the night. The Avs will be back in action at home on Sunday against the St. Louis Blues, and if we win that one, we take the Central and the entire Western Conference.

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