4/23/25 Western Conference Stanley Cup Playoffs Game Recap
- Lyanna Yeow
- Apr 24
- 6 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche (GAME 3)
The Dallas Stars won Game 3 in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche. This game took place at Ball Arena and ended with a 2-1 overtime win for the Stars.
After the Avs’ sneak peak of #92 Captain Gabriel Landeskog’s return on NHL ice during Game 2 warmups, the Avs’ Captain made his grand return in Game 3 of Round One in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Read more about why this debut was so important and his overall road to recovery from a knee injury that many believed was impossible to make a comeback from.
With excitement and support shaking Ball Arena, the Avs fed off the energy in the room by capitalizing and scoring the first goal of the game one minute and fifteen seconds into 4-on-4 hockey. This was possible due to #55 Ryan Lindgren receiving a cross checking penalty and #96 Mikko Rantanen receiving a tripping penalty. #13 Valeri Nichushkin scored the first goal of the game, assisted by #49 Samuel Girard and #70 Sam Malinski, and put the Avs up 1-0. After allowing the only game in the game by the end of the first period, Stars’ #29 Jake Oettinger was able to shake off his rocky start and not let any other additional goals slip past him. #39 Mackenzie Blackwood remained solid for the Avs with a 100% save rate by the end of the period.
After a series of hits, shots on goal, and an unsuccessful power play opportunity, the score remained at a 1-0 standstill in the Avs’ favor after the stellar goaltending performance by #29 Oettinger and #39 Blackwood in the second period.
The third period remained at a standstill until Stars’#14 C. Jamie Benn scored the game-tying goal and made it a 1-1 game after capitalizing on their man-advantage due to Avs’ #29 MacKinnon interference penalty. Less than a minute after the Stars’ goal, their penalty kill were put to the test once again after #95 Matt Duchene received a tripping penalty. After successfully killing the penalty, both teams continued to battle it out for the remainder of the period which remained at a standstill up until the last minute of the game when Stars’ #27 Mason Marchment high-sticked Avs’ #11 Brock Nelson. #29 Oettinger was able to hold out during the remaining forty seconds of regulation which ultimately forced the teams to go into overtime, 1-1, with a minute and twenty seconds left of the Avs’ power play.
Despite being on the power play, the Avs were unable to capitalize on their man-advantage which opened the opportunity for #91 Tyler Seguin to score the overtime game-winning goal for the Stars. The game ended with a final score of 2-1 in the Stars' favor and helped them to regain the lead in this series.
The standout players
Dallas Stars
Colorado Avalanche
Stats
The Stars and Avs both ended with 28 shots on goal
The Avs delivered more hits than the Stars (46 hits vs. 34 hits)
The Avs won more faceoffs than the Stars (53.3% vs 46.7%)
The Stars had a higher power play success rate than the Avs (33.3 PP% vs. 0 PP%)
SUMMARY: Although both teams were evenly matched in regards to puck possession, the Stars’ power play and penalty kill unit was what kept them in this game while the Avs played a more physical game.
Upcoming Games
GAME 4
When: April 26, 2025 at 6:30 PM PST
Where: Ball Arena
Watch: ESPN, SN360, TVAS-D
GAME 5
When: April 28, 2025 at 6:30 PM PST
Where: American Airlines Center
Watch: ESPN
NOTE: Games 5-7 are TBD for each team as they will be scheduled if necessary
The Dallas Stars lead 2-1 in round one of the playoffs against the Colorado Avalanche
Who do you think is going to win Game 4?
Comment down below!
LA Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers (Game 2)
The LA Kings won Game 2 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers by a landslide. This game took place at Crypto.com Arena and ended with a final score of 6-2 in the Kings’ favor.
The first period started off rather slow until the Kings had their first chance on the power play after Oilers' #91 Evander Kane received a cross-checking penalty a couple minutes before the midway point of the period. #74 Stuart Skinner was unable to save every Kings’ shot on goal during their power play opportunity as #92 Brandt Clarke scored a successful power play goal for the Kings and put them up 1-0 eight minutes and forty-four seconds into the period. A minute and six seconds later, the Oilers had their chance on the power play after Kevin Fiala revived a high-sticking penalty. #35 Darcy Kuemper made a set of remarkable saves which denied any Oilers goals and kept it a 1-0 game after the Oilers’ unsuccessful power play opportunity in the latter half of the period. With one minute and fifty seconds left in the period, Kings #55 Quinton Byfieled received a tripping penalty which carried on into the second period.
Although the Oilers started off the with remaining time from their power play, #35 Kuemper remained solid and kept the game in the King's favor. #55 Byfieled made up for his penalty after scoring a goal which extended the Kings’ lead by two-goals early in the second period (2-0). The Oilers’ continued to struggle to capitalize on their power play opportunities throughout the second period as the Kings’ penalty kill unit and stellar goaltending was unfazed and remained at a 100% success rate. While the Oilers struggled, the Kings’ momentum continued as #96 Andrei Kuzmenko secured a wrist shot power play goal forty-nine seconds into the power play and made it a 3-0 game. The Oilers’ goal deficit was cut by two goals after #29 Leon Draisaitl successfully deflected #36 John Klingberg’s shot into the net (3-1) in the latter half of the period. Both teams had a couple great scoring chances, however, the score remained 3-1 in the Kings’ favor.
The first half of the third period was eclectic as the Oilers momentarily made it a one-goal game with a goal tipped into the back of the net by #33 Viktor Arvidsson. The Kings answered back quickly when Kings’ #9 Adrian Kempe’s snap shot slipped past #74 Skinner and made it a 4-2 game in the first half of the third period. The Kings found themselves on the power play once again after #19 Adam Henrique received a roughing penalty less than a minute after #9 Kempe’s goal which ultimately led to #11 C. Anze Kopitar scoring the third Kings’ power play goal of the game (5-2). The Kings continued to dominate latter half of the period with #9 Kempe scored his second goal of this game and made it a 6-2 game. In the end, the Kings' extended their series lead 2-0 after their big win in Game 2.
The standout players
LA Kings
Edmonton Oilers
Stats
The Kings outshot the Oilers (31 SOG vs. 26 SOG)
The Oilers delivered more hits than the Kings (33 hits vs. 24 hits)
The Kings won more faceoffs than the Oilers (52.2% vs 47.8%)
The Kings had a higher power play success rate than the Oilers (60 PP% vs. 0 PP%)
SUMMARY: Despite the Oilers playing a more physical game, the Kings’ puck possession, goaltending, power play and penalty kill unit all greatly contributed to their 6-2 win.
Upcoming Games
GAME 3
When: April 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM PST
Where: Rogers Place
Watch: SN, CBC, TVAS 2, TNT, truTV, Max
GAME 4
When: April 27, 2025 at 6:30 PM PST
Where: Rogers Place
Watch: SN, CBC, TVAS, TBS, truTV, Max
NOTE: Games 5-7 are TBD for each team as they will be scheduled if necessary
The LA Kings lead 2-0 in round one of the playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers
Who do you think is going to win Game 3?
Comment down below!
Come back for the next 2025 Stanley Cup Round One Western Conference game recap!
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