The enticing first-round series between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars is going the distance. The two top-five teams in the Western Conference will head to seven games after the Avs took Game Six in a wild win.

Game Seven will take place on Saturday night for all to see on ABC and ESPN+ at 6:00 p.m. MT. However, let the record show the Avalanche doesn’t have the best record. On the flip side, the Stars are built for situations like this.

So, how does Colorado get by and slay this dragon?

The Stats

The big point in this series comes between the two coaches. Dallas’ leader, Pete DeBoer, is a perfect 8-0 in Game Seven’s. Jared Bednar is 0-3 in his Game Seven appearances. One of those three losses came against Pete DeBoer when he was coaching the San Jose Sharks in 2019. The other two losses came to the Seattle Kraken in 2023 and the same Stars team in the bubble in 2020.

The entire Colorado organization as a whole has struggled in Game Seven appearances. They are 6-10 in 16 appearances, having been outscored 46-37. They’ve lost six straight games, with their last win coming all the way back in 2002.

The Dallas organization also has a negative record in Game Sevens, going 8-9. However, they have a better record as of late, winning three of their last four. One of those wins came against the Avalanche, and they will be looking for a repeat on home ice.

That, too, is another key: the Stars have home-ice advantage. They have won four of their last five Game Sevens on home ice, including two against Colorado back at the turn of the century. Overall, Dallas is 3-0 against the Avalanche when they’ve played in Game Seven.

So how do they get over the hump?

Nothing is seemingly going Colorado’s way when looking at recent stats and trends. But surely the trend will be bucked. Saturday night could be a perfect time to do just that.

Games Four and Six were almost exactly what the doctor ordered. They played with desperation while upping the intensity. Dallas could not keep up in Game Four, while unable to finish the job in Game Six. In the middle period of Thursday’s game, Colorado made too many mistakes and took the foot off the gas, which allowed them back in.

However, they adjusted in the third by jumping into the play and upping the intensity again. They were able to control play and got some bounces to go their way. They’ll need more of the same on Saturday night.

A perfect demonstration of it came on the game-tying goal. The Avs forced a turnover in the offensive zone for Dallas. It led to a bump pass along the far boards to start the rush forward. It forced the Stars back, giving Gabriel Landeskog time to shoot. Getting the puck down low left an opportunity for Valeri Nichushkin to take.

That is another difference compared to years past: Landeskog is back. In the last two Game Seven appearances by the Avalanche, the captain has been out. He has been back and better than anyone expected, with four points in four games.

He will be a calm, cool, and collected leader who can help manage things on and off the ice. Landeskog’s presence in both aspects could be a difference maker as well.

All in all, nothing is in favor of the Avalanche going into this final matchup. They have the opportunity to right the ship and move on to face the winner of the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues. They can make all wrongs be right.

If Game Six was now or never, Game Seven certainly is.