The Stanley Cup playoffs are off to an intriguing start, and for Mackenzie Blackwood, it was quite the debut. Thrust into the playoff spotlight, Blackwood nearly shut the door on Dallas, stopping 23 shots and surrendering just a single goal in the Colorado Avalanche’s 5-1 victory over the Stars in Game 1 of their first-round series. His performance, punctuated by a masterful third period, helped Colorado take the crucial first step in their quest for a second title in four years, thanks in no small part to the roster restructuring by GM Chris MacFarland, which included bringing in Blackwood.

The Avs sealed their Game 1 win with Devon Toews’ opportunistic goal from a Josh Manson setup at 12:56 of the third period, dampening the spirits of the lively crowd at American Airlines Center after Roope Hintz’s power-play tally cut the deficit to one. Nathan MacKinnon, showcasing his knack for clutch performances, padded the lead with an empty-netter — his second of the night — before Charlie Coyle put the finishing touch in the dying moments.

For the Stars, this opening loss highlights a troubling trend. They’ve now dropped their last eight Game 1 matches, a statistic that’s gallingly familiar for a franchise poised for a deeper postseason run. But the Avs showed they’re more than ready to contend, starting with an unconventional yet pivotal opening goal.

Unlikely Opener Puts Colorado Ahead

The first goal of the matchup wasn’t delivered with a sharp slap shot or breakaway finesse; instead, it bounced off Artturi Lehkonen’s foot in a bit of a surreal hockey ballet. Evgenii Dadonov’s feed nearly set Hintz up, MacKinnon came close on the power play, and Cale Makar took a full-speed crack with a one-timer.

Yet, Lehkonen eventually got the score sheet started, after his fall resulted in the puck inadvertently finding the back of the net. Despite the Stars’ appeals, the review upheld the goal, crediting Lehkonen and putting Colorado up midway through the second period.

Power Play Battles and Critical Moments

The Stars had their moments — notably during a spectacular five-on-three penalty kill early in the game. With penalties quickly racking up for Dallas, including Mason Marchment and Wyatt Johnston’s successive trips to the box, the job of stifling the Avalanche’s potent power play fell to Ilya Lyubushkin, Sam Steel, and Esa Lindell.

Their smart play and tenacity electrified the home crowd and provided a temporary reprieve. But the danger with a Colorado team like this is that too many chances will eventually yield results.

Sure enough, a late second-period penalty on Hintz swung things back in Colorado’s favor, with MacKinnon capitalizing on a deflected shot, making it 2-0 before the teams headed into the intermission.

Dallas got their lone power play goal in the third, courtesy of Hintz, when Blackwood was caught without his stick. Coach Pete DeBoer wisely used a timeout to rally the Stars’ power play unit, and it worked — if only briefly.

Stars Hope for Rantanen Magic

Mikko Rantanen, the epitome of a clutch playoff performer with 101 points across 82 playoff games, was praised pre-game for his ability to excel when it counts. Yet, against Dallas, he seemed to struggle to find his rhythm, posting only three shots and ending with a minus-2 rating. With key player Jason Robertson sidelined, Rantanen’s contributions are crucial for Dallas not just in this series, but throughout the playoffs.

“He’s a player who rises with the pressure,” said Wyatt Johnston. “Having him in our corner rather than going up against him is a big shift for us.”

Landeskog and Heiskanen’s Pending Returns

As the playoffs loom large, the unexpected X-factors could be players not yet in the lineup. Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog and Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen, both recovering from knee injuries, were central talking points even in their absence.

With Landeskog inching closer to a return after a stint with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, his presence, even off-ice, is rallying for the Avs. Dallas holds similar hopes for Heiskanen, whose impact is incalculable both defensively and as a morale boost, as Coach DeBoer hinted about his potential return sparking the team.

“I was there in Loveland watching him with the Eagles,” Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson said. “He’s a presiding force, and having him around, even in the locker room, changes the atmosphere.”

Their performances will be pivotal as both teams look to capitalize on each other’s weaknesses and leverage their strengths in the quest for glory. For now, the spotlight remains on Blackwood and the Avs, but keep an eye on those returning warriors and those finding their footing. This is playoff hockey — anything can happen.