Varlamov's effort not enough in loss to Stars

HIGHLIGHTS

GAME RUNDOWN

After winning three consecutive games, something they failed to do all of the 2016-17 season, the Colorado Avalanche finally ran into a roadblock on their path to redemption as they fell on the road to the Dallas Stars, 3-1. Dallas controlled the pace of play throughout the first two periods while building a 2-0 lead before eventually hanging on in a tight third period to take the first game of the season series.

The first period saw a scoreless tie as Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov continued to show he was back at 100% this season, stopping all 14 shots he faced while counterpart Ben Bishop stopped all four shots the Avalanche mustered to put on net. Each team had a power play opportunity but neither team managed to make anything noteworthy of them as the story of the opening frame was the goaltenders.

The second period began with a bang as the Stars took advantage of sloppy Colorado defense from the jump and created a two-on-one opportunity and captain Jamie Benn sniped a puck far post past Varlamov to put the Stars up 1-0 just 24 seconds in. The lead held up throughout an increasingly chippy period as the Avalanche gave Dallas four power play opportunities and had two of their own but it would take a controversial final seconds to break the one-goal game open. As Avalanche forward J.T. Compher attempted to clear the zone, he appeared to have been held by Benn , who was able to control the puck and eventually found Tyler Seguin for a back-breaking goal with just one second remaining in the period, pushing Dallas ahead 2-0.

That Seguin goal held up as the game-winner even though the Avalanche came back with a respectable third period effort. Colorado outshot Dallas 11-8 in the third and a Matt Duchene goal at 1:26 made things interesting. Colorado eventually pulled Varlamov and the Stars would make them pay with an empty-net goal from Esa Lindell to make it 3-1 and polish off a frustrating evening for the visiting team.

THREE STARS

1. Tyler Seguin

2. Ben Bishop

3. Devin Shore

BY THE NUMBERS

WHAT’S NEXT

Colorado heads to Nashville for a road matchup against the Predators on Tuesday night. Puck drop is 6PM Mountain.