DENVER — In a night brimming with emotions, the Colorado Avalanche blanked the Dallas Stars 4-0 at Ball Arena, evening their Western Conference First Round series at 2-2.
The game was highlighted by the captain Gabriel Landeskog, who notched his first NHL goal in nearly three years, and goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood’s first career playoff shutout.
Landeskog’s Emotional Comeback
After a 1,041-day hiatus due to a chronic right knee injury, Landeskog made a resounding statement in his second game back.
At 13:10 of the second period, he received a pass from Brock Nelson and fired a snap shot from the left circle, beating Stars goalie Jake Oettinger to extend Colorado’s lead to 3-0.
The goal marked Landeskog’s first since June 20, 2022, during the Stanley Cup Final against Tampa Bay.
“I’ve envisioned scoring again for a long time, and then there were obviously days where I didn’t know if I was ever going to get to score again,” Landeskog reflected postgame. “So obviously it feels good. It’s a tight playoff series and a big game here at home. To get to do it in front of our fans obviously means a lot.”
Teammate Nathan MacKinnon expressed his admiration for the moment:
“It was kind of more than just a playoff goal. I think it was a life goal. It meant a lot to all of us for him to score a goal, and then he had an assist. It was just awesome out there.”
Landeskog’s presence has already elevated the Avalanche’s energy level, and his leadership continues to be a driving force both on and off the ice.
Blackwood’s Stellar Performance
Between the pipes, Mackenzie Blackwood delivered a flawless performance, stopping all 23 shots he faced to secure his first career postseason shutout.
His composure and agility were instrumental in stifling the Stars’ offense throughout the game. Blackwood controlled rebounds, stayed square to the shooter, and made several key saves early that prevented Dallas from gaining any momentum.
“I like the way we’ve played in this series. We didn’t get the result we wanted in Game 2 and Game 3,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar commented. “There’s certainly some things in both those games that we could have done better… but I like a lot of the things we’re doing.”
For Blackwood, the shutout wasn’t just a personal milestone — it was a statement that the Avalanche can rely on him under playoff pressure.
Special Teams Shine
Colorado’s special teams were a decisive factor in the victory.
Logan O’Connor opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal at 12:39 of the first period, capitalizing on a turnover by Dallas defenseman Thomas Harley.
Later in the period, MacKinnon extended the lead with a power-play goal, his fourth of the playoffs, assisted by Devon Toews and Jonathan Drouin.
The Avalanche’s penalty kill was equally effective, successfully neutralizing all of Dallas’s power-play opportunities.
Winning the special teams battle allowed Colorado to dictate the pace and set the tone from the opening minutes.
Girard Seals the Deal
Defenseman Samuel Girard capped the scoring at 10:46 of the third period, firing a wrist shot from the blue line that navigated through traffic and beat Stars goaltender Casey DeSmith, who replaced Oettinger to start the final frame.
Landeskog earned an assist on the play, marking his first multi-point playoff game since 2022.
Girard’s tally underscored the Avalanche’s depth and ability to generate offense from the back end, an element that could become increasingly important as the series wears on.
Key Takeaways from Game 4
Landeskog’s Return is Transformative:
Beyond the scoreboard, Landeskog’s emotional return gave the Avalanche a much-needed jolt of leadership and stability. His ability to impact the game in all three zones is a critical factor moving forward.
Blackwood’s Confidence is Growing:
The shutout gives Blackwood momentum heading into Game 5, and the Avalanche’s confidence in their netminder continues to build. A reliable last line of defense is essential in tight playoff series.
Special Teams Rebound:
After struggling earlier in the series, Colorado’s penalty kill and power play came through in a big way. Winning the special teams battle is often the deciding factor in the postseason.
Physical Play Escalates:
The physicality increased noticeably, with the Avalanche setting the tone early. Their forecheck kept Dallas uncomfortable and prevented clean breakouts.
What’s at Stake in Game 5
With the series tied 2-2, Game 5 in Dallas looms large. Historically, teams that win Game 5 in a tied best-of-seven series go on to win the series over 78% of the time.
For Colorado, stealing one on the road would flip home-ice advantage back in their favor and put them in a position to close it out at Ball Arena in Game 6.
Both teams are expecting an emotional, high-intensity battle.
“It’s going to be another war,” Landeskog said. “We know the type of environment it’s going to be. We’re excited for it.”
Dallas, meanwhile, will be desperate to bounce back after dropping two straight games.
“We have to regroup and get back to our game,” Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen said. “It’s a long series, and nothing is going to be easy.”
The Avalanche’s Game 4 victory showed they can take control when they stick to their structure and impose their will physically.
Maintaining that approach on the road will be critical if they hope to come back to Denver with a chance to clinch.
Denver Sports Media 