NHL results | Playoffs | Wednesday
Avalanche 4, Stars 1 Series tied 3-3
EDMONTON, Alberta — Rookie defenseman Cale Makar scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, third-string goaltender Michael Hutchinson stopped 27 shots and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 4-1 on Wednesday night to force a decisive Game 7 in their secondround playoff series.
Nikita Zadorov and Mikko Rantanen also scored, and Nathan MacKinnon added an empty-netter for the Avalanche, who staved off elimination for a second straight game to tie the series at three wins apiece. Colorado has never won a postseason series when trailing 3-1.
Game 7 is Friday.
The 30-year-old Hutchinson was back in net with starter Philipp Grubauer and backup Pavel Francouz both sidelined. It was just Hutchinson’s second career NHL playoff start — and second win.
Tuesday Canucks 2, Golden Knights 1 Vegas leads series 3-2
EDMONTON, Alberta — Elias Petterson scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period, Thatcher Demko made 42 saves in his first NHL playoff start and the Vancouver Canucks staved off elimination by beating the Golden Knights 2-1 Tuesday night in Game 5 of their second-round series.
Western Conference topseeded Vegas outshot Vancouver 43-17 and only cracked Demko once, on a highlight reel goal by defenseman Shea Theodore in the second. Brock Boeser also scored for the Canucks and got the primary assist on Pettersson’s goal by taking the shot the 21-year-old Swede deflected past Robin Lehner.
Because of Demko’s dominant performance in net and timely scoring, there will be a Game 6 on Thursday night at Rogers Place. The Canucks joined the Dallas Stars and Philadelphia Flyers as teams down 3-1 this round to force a Game 6.
The winner of this series will face the winner of Stars-Avalanche in the Western Conference final.
Vancouver went into the game seemingly at a major disadvantage with starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom out. There had been speculation Markstrom was hampered by an injury, though coach Travis Green earlier Tuesday would only say, “he’s a competitor and warrior and as far as tonight, come to the game or tune in to the game to find out.”