Stars Edge Avalanche in Tight Central Division Clash

Dallas holds off Colorado in a high-scoring affair at American Airlines Center

Apr. 4, 2026 at 2:37am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in a cubist style, breaking down a hockey game into sharp, overlapping geometric planes of ice, sticks, pucks, and players' bodies in motion, using the official team colors of the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche.The intense on-ice battle between the Stars and Avalanche is captured in a cubist-inspired illustration that deconstructs the action into a dynamic, geometric composition.Dallas Today

The Dallas Stars defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in a thrilling Central Division matchup at American Airlines Center. The Stars jumped out to an early lead, but the Avalanche battled back to make it a close game late. Dallas held on for the narrow victory, further tightening the race atop the division standings.

Why it matters

This win is a big boost for the Stars as they look to catch the division-leading Avalanche in the standings. Both teams are playoff-bound, but this game could have major implications for home-ice advantage in the postseason. The tight, high-scoring affair also showcased the offensive firepower of these two Western Conference powerhouses.

The details

The Stars opened the scoring with two first-period goals from Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson. The Avalanche responded with tallies from Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen to tie it up in the second. But Dallas regained the lead in the third period on a goal by Miro Heiskanen, and they held on for the 4-3 victory despite a late push from Colorado.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 3:00 pm EDT.
  • Dallas scored two goals in the first period and added a third in the second.
  • Colorado erased a 6-2 deficit late in the third period but ultimately fell short.

The players

Wyatt Johnston

The Stars' young center scored the opening goal of the game.

Jason Robertson

The Stars' leading scorer added another goal in the first period.

Nathan MacKinnon

The Avalanche's superstar center tallied a goal to get Colorado back in the game.

Mikko Rantanen

The Avalanche winger scored to tie the game in the second period.

Miro Heiskanen

The Stars' defenseman netted the game-winning goal in the third period.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough battle against a great team like Colorado. I'm proud of the way our guys battled and found a way to get the two points.”

— Rick Bowness, Head Coach, Dallas Stars

“We just couldn't quite get over the hump there at the end. Give credit to Dallas, they made the plays when it mattered most.”

— Jared Bednar, Head Coach, Colorado Avalanche

What’s next

The Stars and Avalanche will meet again on April 15th in Colorado, in a game that could have major playoff seeding implications. Both teams will look to gain an edge in the season series and secure home-ice advantage for a potential postseason matchup.

The takeaway

This thrilling Stars-Avalanche clash showcased the high-powered offenses and intense rivalry between these two Western Conference contenders. The narrow victory for Dallas tightens the race atop the Central Division, setting the stage for an exciting finish to the regular season and a potential playoff rematch between these two powerhouses.