Dallas Stars Drop Shootout to Avalanche, Hintz Hurt
The Dallas Stars lost to the Colorado Avalanche in a shootout on Saturday, March 7, 2026, despite holding the lead for most of the game. The defeat stings extra because Dallas had multiple chances to close it out and never did — and center Roope Hintz departed with a leg injury before the final buzzer.
This one had all the makings of a Stars win. Dallas controlled long stretches, built real offensive pressure, and looked like the sharper team at even strength for most of sixty minutes. But the Stars couldn’t convert when it counted, and Colorado stayed alive long enough to steal two points.
How the Dallas Stars Let This Game Slip
The Dallas Stars gave away a winnable game by going cold on the power play in the third period and then fumbling a clear empty-net look late in regulation. Those two failures, back to back, kept Colorado breathing and eventually cost Dallas the game.
The third period was where things turned. Dallas had multiple man-advantage chances and couldn’t cash in on any of them. Wasted power play time is the kind of thing that haunts a club when the final score goes the wrong way. Across the NHL, power play conversion rate is one of the sharpest predictors of postseason success, and the Stars left real points on the ice Saturday night.
Then came the empty-net moment. Justin Hryckowian passed to Jamie Benn, setting up what looked like a routine empty-net goal to seal the result. Benn couldn’t finish it. Colorado survived, pushed the game to overtime, and then took the shootout. That sequence — a clean feed, a clear look, a miss — is the kind of thing coaches run back on film all week long.
The Stars were outscored in the shootout after neither team could break through in overtime. Colorado’s ability to hang around despite Dallas controlling large portions of the contest speaks to how punishing late-game execution errors can be at this level of competition.
Roope Hintz left Saturday’s contest against Colorado with a leg injury, per NHL.com. He is a top-six forward and one of the Stars’ most relied-upon centers, so his status will draw sharp attention from the Dallas coaching staff and fantasy hockey managers heading into the next stretch of games.
Losing a center of Hintz’s caliber disrupts line combinations, breaks zone-entry rhythm, and piles added pressure on the rest of the forward group. No return timeline has been confirmed based on available information from Saturday’s game. Dallas will need to track this carefully as the schedule tightens down the stretch of the regular season.
The Stars still found ways to generate offense and hold the lead even after Hintz’s departure, which suggests some depth in the forward group. That resilience is a good sign. But depth can only carry a club so far when a top center misses extended time — and right now, the Stars don’t have a confirmed answer on when he comes back.
Key Developments from Stars vs. Avalanche
The Dallas Stars held the lead for the majority of the game before dropping a shootout decision to the Colorado Avalanche on March 7, 2026.
Center Roope Hintz departed with a leg injury, and no confirmed return timeline is available.
Dallas failed to convert on multiple power play chances in the third period, a stretch that directly shaped the outcome.
Justin Hryckowian set up Jamie Benn for an empty-net attempt late in regulation, but Benn could not finish the play.
The Stars generated chances to win in both overtime and the shootout before Colorado locked up the final result.
The Dallas Stars face upcoming games against the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, and Seattle Kraken, based on game day guides listed alongside Saturday’s report. Those matchups give Dallas a fast chance to rebound, but the Hintz situation and the power play struggles both need to be addressed before puck drop in any of those contests.
The film shows a Stars squad that can control games at even strength. Structure was mostly sound on Saturday night. But power play execution and late-game decision-making are spots where Dallas left real value behind. Any roster adjustments tied to Hintz’s absence will also factor into how the front office responds over the next several days.
Dallas also recently acquired defenseman Tyler Myers from the Vancouver Canucks, per NHL.com. Myers adds depth on the blue line and gives head coach Peter DeBoer more options as the Stars push through the second half of the regular season. His arrival is well-timed given the current injury concern up front.
The Stars carry enough talent to absorb a tough loss and stay in the Western Conference hunt. But missed power plays and a botched empty-netter are the kind of details that split playoff clubs from bubble clubs. Dallas needs to fix those habits fast. The roster depth the front office built this season only pays off if the team converts its chances when the game is on the line.
What happened in the Dallas Stars vs. Avalanche game on March 7, 2026?
The Dallas Stars held the lead for most of the contest but dropped a shootout decision to the Colorado Avalanche on March 7, 2026. Dallas missed multiple third-period power play chances and failed to convert an empty-net look late in regulation before Colorado won in the shootout. The Stars were competitive throughout but could not finish when it mattered most.
Is Roope Hintz injured after the Avalanche game?
Yes. Roope Hintz left Saturday’s game against Colorado with a leg injury, according to NHL.com. No return timeline has been confirmed. He is a top-six forward and one of the Stars’ most relied-upon centers, making his availability a key storyline heading into Dallas’s next several games.
Who missed the empty-net goal for Dallas against Colorado?
Jamie Benn had the empty-net attempt after receiving a pass from Justin Hryckowian late in regulation, but Benn could not convert the chance. That miss allowed Colorado to survive and eventually claim the game in a shootout.
Who did the Dallas Stars recently acquire from Vancouver?
The Dallas Stars acquired defenseman Tyler Myers from the Vancouver Canucks, according to NHL.com. Myers adds depth to the Dallas blue line as the Stars continue their push through the second half of the regular season.
