Colorado Avalanche vs Dallas Stars Picks and Predictions April 23rd 2025

Emotions Run Deep as Stars, Avalanche Brace for Game 3 in Denver

A playoff rivalry rich with history just got another layer of drama. With the first-round series between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche tied 1-1, Wednesday night’s Game 3 in Denver is shaping up to be both emotional and pivotal, featuring familiar faces in unfamiliar roles and a potential return of a beloved captain.

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Dallas Evens the Series, But Questions Loom

Dallas clawed back from a 2-0 deficit to steal Game 2 in overtime, 4-3, with a gritty, opportunistic performance. But all eyes are on former Avalanche star Mikko Rantanen, now skating for the Stars — and still looking for his first playoff point in a new sweater.

“He played in one place for a decade … and no one else in the league has that guy,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said, referring to Rantanen’s long-time chemistry with Nathan MacKinnon. “It hasn’t come easily.”

The pressure on Rantanen has intensified following an injury to Jason Robertson, Dallas’ top scorer, in the final game of the regular season. Rantanen, once a fan favorite in Colorado, now returns to Ball Arena as the playoff villain — a twist sure to stoke crowd emotions and set the tone early.

Avalanche Face Tough Questions, But Help Could Arrive

Colorado took Game 1 with a dominant third period but faltered in OT of Game 2. Coach Jared Bednar isn’t panicking — but he is calling for more from key contributors.

“I need to see more,” Bednar said plainly about the trio of Brock Nelson, Valeri Nichushkin, and Jonathan Drouin, who’ve been held scoreless through two games.

The Avalanche may get a jolt of energy and leadership from the long-awaited return of Gabriel Landeskog, the team’s captain and spiritual core. While scratched last game, Landeskog participated in warmups and could slot in Wednesday, potentially replacing Miles Wood, whose costly turnover led to the Game 2 OT loss.

Landeskog hasn’t played since lifting the Cup in 2022, and he’s battled through multiple knee surgeries. If cleared, he’s expected to debut in a bottom-six role — a strategic move to ease him into playoff pace.

Blackwood’s Breakout, Emotions High in the Crease

Rookie goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood has been a revelation for Colorado. Despite no prior playoff experience, he’s turned aside 58 of 63 shots over the first two games and has looked sharp, poised, and confident.

“He made some huge saves,” said MacKinnon. “We could have lost both games without him.”

Meanwhile, Dallas netminder Jake Oettinger has settled after a rocky finish to the regular season. His play in Game 2 — especially late — showed flashes of the dominant goaltender Dallas needs to keep pace with Colorado’s offensive firepower.

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Game 3 X-Factors

• Can Rantanen quiet the Denver crowd with a breakout game?
• Will Landeskog make his emotional return and spark Colorado?
• Which secondary scorers will finally show up?
• Will Colorado’s defensive miscues prove costly again?

This series has all the makings of a long, physical battle between two Cup-caliber teams — and Game 3 might be the series’ emotional inflection point.