Sun Apr 27 03:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Avalanche Suffer Another Overtime Loss to Stars, Power Play Remains a Major Issue
**Denver, CO** – The Colorado Avalanche suffered their second consecutive overtime defeat against the Dallas Stars Wednesday night, losing 2-1 in Game 3 of their playoff series despite a highly anticipated return of captain Gabriel Landeskog after a lengthy injury absence. Landeskog’s return, celebrated by a roaring Ball Arena crowd, failed to ignite the Avalanche offense, leaving the team facing a critical 1-2 series deficit.
The Avalanche’s power play, a major source of concern throughout the series, continued to falter, going 0-for-6 in Game 3 and 2-for-13 overall. Coach Jared Bednar acknowledged the glaring deficiency, stating bluntly that “everything” needs to improve on the power play. He hinted at potential lineup changes, particularly considering the insertion of Landeskog onto the top power-play unit.
Despite a strong start, including a first-period goal by Val Nichushkin, the Avalanche struggled to maintain momentum. They failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities, including a lengthy 5-on-3 power play in overtime. A missed wide-open net by Artturi Lehkonen further underscored their offensive woes.
Dallas, playing without key players Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson, managed to frustrate the Avalanche throughout the game. Their coach, Peter DeBoer, appeared to have outmaneuvered Bednar strategically, exploiting the Avalanche’s special teams weaknesses.
The Avalanche’s desperate situation is highlighted by the fact that they have twice held a one-goal lead going into the third period only to squander it. The historical precedent is not encouraging: teams with a 2-1 series lead in Avs-Stars playoff history win 67% of the time. The Avalanche now face a must-win Game 4 on Saturday night, with the pressure mounting to finally solve their power-play problems and overcome the Stars’ determined defense.
First Piper 