Fri May 02 01:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Avalanche Face Elimination in Game 6 Against Stars
**DENVER, CO** – The Colorado Avalanche face a must-win situation as they take on the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of their Western Conference First Round series on Thursday. Down 3-2 in the series, the Avalanche haven’t overcome such a deficit to win a best-of-seven since 2002. Their recent playoff history against the Stars is particularly challenging, having lost Game 6 at home last year.
While Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon leads the series in goals with seven and boasts a strong record in elimination games, the Stars are confident after their decisive 6-2 victory in Game 5. Dallas forwards Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen exploded offensively in that game, a stark contrast to their previous performances. Stars goalie Jake Oettinger, despite a shaky Game 4, has a strong track record against Colorado, especially at Ball Arena.
Colorado’s Cale Makar is another key player to watch. He’s gone pointless in the last three games, a situation mirroring a similar stretch last year against Dallas, before he broke out with two goals in the following game.
The Avalanche are emphasizing intensity and focus rather than succumbing to pressure, while the Stars remain confident in their game plan. Coach Pete DeBoer is sticking with the same lineup that secured the Game 5 victory for Dallas, while the Avalanche are expected to do the same. Key injuries for the Stars include Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson. For Colorado, the absence of Ross Colton continues to impact their lineup. The game will be a crucial test of the Avalanche’s playoff mettle, as they aim to avoid elimination and force a Game 7.
First Piper 