Colorado Looks Lifeless in Landeskog's Return, Fall in OT... Again

Dallas scores early in OT to take 2-1 series lead

Game 3 | April 23, 2025
Dallas 2, Colorado 1 (OT)
Dallas Leads, 2-1

Another game, another blown lead, another overtime loss… to Dallas. Wednesday’s Game 3 had so much potential, but it turned into yet another disappointing postseason game with the Stars.

No wasting time, let’s get into it.

• Gabe. Landeskog.

• He made it back. All the way back. There's so much to say about that alone. I’ll carve out some time tomorrow at work to properly gather my thoughts—and my emotions—after watching Landy return, start, and be recognized by 18,000 Avs Faithful at Ball Arena.

• But there’s just too much to say about Gabe and a night like this to let it completely hijack what’s supposed to be a game recap.

• Credit to the Stars for the start. Ball Arena was ELECTRIC to open the game, but Dallas not only weathered the early storm—they controlled the game. They were the better team in the first period, and surviving those first few minutes of altitude-fueled chaos seemed to spark them.

• HOWEVER… playing well early and taking the early lead are not mutually exclusive. With so much focus on Mikko Rantanen and Matt Duchene playing against their former team in Denver, it’s easy for passive fans to forget that Valeri Nichushkin is also playing against the team that drafted him.