Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog made his highly anticipated return to play after a considerable absence. However, his comeback game was overshadowed as the Dallas Stars secured their second consecutive overtime victory, giving them a 2-1 advantage in the series.
In his first game appearance in nearly three years, Landeskog received a warm reception from the home crowd at Ball Arena. The fans roared their appreciation for the player who had persevered through multiple surgeries and challenges to make it back onto the ice.
Game 3 on Wednesday did not culminate in a celebratory outcome for Landeskog and the Avalanche, although it appeared possible in the final moments. With the score tied late in the third period, Jamie Benn scored for the Stars to knot the game. Inside the final minute of regulation, Stars winger Mason Marchment received a four-minute penalty for high-sticking that drew blood on an Avalanche player, resulting in a power play that extended into overtime.
Despite being short-handed, the Stars successfully defended and killed off the double minor penalty. Shortly after his penalty expired, Mason Marchment was involved in the winning play. He delivered a pass to Tyler Seguin, who drove to the net and decisively scored the game-winning goal with a wrist shot high into the net, securing the 2-1 win for Dallas.
Remarkably, the Dallas Stars have held a lead for less than 70 seconds across the first three games of this series yet find themselves ahead 2-1. This outcome underscores the dramatic nature of the contest witnessed at Ball Arena.
