Miro Heiskanen scored twice and Roope Hintz tallied once in a four-point performance to lead the host Dallas Stars to a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.
The Western Conference semifinal series is tied 1-1 with Game 3 of the best-of-seven series set for Saturday in Denver.
Tyler Seguin and Esa Lindell also scored for the Stars, who held a 4-0 lead through two periods and clung on for the victory. Goaltender Jake Oettinger made 28 saves, including a handful when it was a one-goal game and during a late Colorado power play.
Joel Kiviranta, Brandon Duhaime and Valeri Nichushkin found the net for the Avalanche, who had won five consecutive games. Goalie Alexandar Georgiev stopped 26 shots.
Heiskanen’s power-play goal opened the scoring 14:46 into the contest and provided the Stars a much-needed lead. After taking a cross-ice feed from Hintz, Heiskanen buried a one-timer.
Hintz doubled the lead 1:57 into the second period with his second of the playoffs. Within a minute after Game 1 overtime hero Miles Wood was denied on a partial breakaway, the Stars enjoyed an odd-man rush that ended with Hintz burying a sharp-angled shot.
Heiskanen’s second power-play goal, at 15:54 of the middle frame, extended the edge. Heiskanen had his point shot tick off a defender’s stick and into the top corner for his third of the playoffs.
Seguin’s short-handed goal at 18:06 of the second period made it a 4-0 game. During an odd-man rush, Seguin buried a rebound chance for his first of the postseason.
Kiviranta, who returned after missing the past three games, put the Avalanche on the board at 4:06 of the third period when he pounced on a rebound for his first of the playoffs.
Duhaime halved Colorado’s deficit four minutes later when he netted his first career payoff goal by joining a rush and ripping a high shot
Nichushkin netted his ninth of the playoffs to make it a one-goal game with 3:44 remaining in regulation when a shot banked off his leg.
Lindell’s empty-net goal with 21 seconds remaining sealed Dallas’ victory.