Matt Duchene scores in double overtime as Dallas Stars oust Colorado Avalanche in Game 6
The Dallas Stars lost a ruling on Mason Marchment's apparent goal in overtime because of goalie interference by teammate Matt Duchene.
But Duchene made it count in the second overtime as the Stars defeated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in Game 6 Friday night and earned a second consecutive trip to the Western Conference final.
Marchment's shot went in at 12:31 of the first overtime, but the on-ice officials ruled that Duchene had made contact with Colorado goalie Alexandar Georgiev. Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar pushed Duchene right before the puck went in. The NHL situation room reviewed the play and confirmed no goal.
There was no question on Duchene's goal. He picked up a loose puck and fired it past Georgiev at 11:42 of the second overtime.
"I just shot it in and blacked out, pretty much," he told TNT. "I was so tired."
Duchene had been bought out by the Nashville Predators during the offseason and signed a one-year deal with Dallas. He scored 25 goals during the regular season and has six points in the playoffs.
Mikko Rantanen put the Avalanche ahead 1-0 in the second period with a power play goal and Stars captain Jamie Benn tied the game early in the third period, outracing two defenders and taking a pass from Evgenii Dadonov to break in alone and beat Georgiev.
The Stars reached the conference final last season, but lost to the eventual champion Vegas Golden Knights.
What's next for the Dallas Stars?
They will face the winner of the Edmonton Oilers-Vancouver Canucks series this time. Vancouver leads the series 3-2 with Game 6 in Edmonton on Saturday night (8 ET, ESPN).
The Stars will have home-ice advantage as the Western Conference's top seed. They went 2-1 against the Canucks and 2-0-1 against the Oilers.
What's next for the Colorado Avalanche?
Rantanen is entering the final year of his contract and is eligible for an extension after July 1. Core players Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Devon Toews are locked in long term.
The Avalanche's list of potential unrestricted free agents is lengthy. Zach Parise is expected to retire. Jonathan Drouin had a strong season on his free agent deal and is a candidate for a new contract.
Other UFAs are trade deadline acquisitions Sean Walker, Brandon Duhaime and Yakov Trenin, plus Andrew Cogliano, Jack Johnson and others. Casey Mittelstadt, acquired at the deadline to be Colorado's No. 2 center, is a restricted free agent.
Forward Valeri Nichushkin has been placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and is suspended for at least six months.