Colorado Avalanche's MacKinnon credits fluky goal for tying the series in Game 6 against the Dallas Stars
In an electrifying turn of events, the Colorado Avalanche managed to scrape past the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series, securing a 7-4 victory. This goals-galore affair set the stage for a nail-biting Game 7, schedule for Saturday in Dallas.
The game was fraught with odd-man rushes, rebound opportunities, and defensive breakdowns, resulting in an offensive explosion. One of the key highlights was Valeri Nichushkin's brilliant two-goal performance [3], while Nathan MacKinnon's pivotal plays near the crease proved instrumental for Colorado [2].
Dallas drew first blood with a goal 22 seconds into a power play. However, Colorado clawed their way back, with MacKinnon's deflection and Nichushkin's rebound goal being the game-defining moments [2][3]. MacKinnon himself referred to the winning goal as fortuitous, humorously labeling it as "super lucky" [2].
Mikael Granlund, another Finnish player, added to the scoring for Colorado during the pivotal second period. Despite being outshot by a margin of 48-26, the Stars' goaltender Jake Oettinger turned back 41 shots [3].
The Avalanche, coached by the 8-0 all-time legend Pete DeBoer in Game 7s, will be aiming for their first victory in a decisive seventh game of a series since their last appearance [5]. The Stars, who are 0-8 against DeBoer in Game 7s, will be hoping to reverse their fortune at home [2].
The series has seen several instances of unlucky breaks for both teams, from pucks bouncing off shoulders to sticks and skates playing a role in goals [2]. The Stars' coach Pete DeBoer, seeming to acknowledge these bounces, commented that he'd rather win in six than rely on luck in a Game 7 [2].
There was a brief moment of concern in the second period when Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel slid into the boards with Jack Drury, but fortunately, Bichsel managed to return to the game in the third period [3].
The upcoming Game 7 is sure to be filled with tension and excitement, as both teams fight tooth and nail for a spot in the next round. With the series evenly balanced, fans can expect another thrilling encounter [3]. For extensive coverage and highlights, tune into NHL and ESPN broadcasts [1][4].
Mikael Granlund, a Finnish player, scored for the Avalanche in Game 6. On Thursday, Mikael will try to help the team tie their series against Dallas in Game 7 of the NHL playoffs. The game, known for its exciting moments and numerous goals, also saw a fortuitous winning goal for Nathan MacKinnon. Coincidentally, Mikeal, like MacKinnon, plays hockey for the Avalanche.
