Once again the Dallas Stars ice the soaring Colorado Avalanche

Something about the Dallas Stars that cools off the red-hot Colorado Avalanche, in the regular season and in the playoffs of the restarted shortened National Hockey League season.

At the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto Saturday night, the Stars began the semifinals of the Western Conference by again icing the Avalanche, 5-3, and following up their 4-for-4 advantage over Colorado during the regular season. To advance, Dallas had to get past the pesky Calgary Flames and did so in six games, But the Avalanche eased in by outscoring the Arizona Coyotes, 24-8, and winning the series in five games.

Coming into this match-up, there was talk of how impressive Colorado was in the qualifying and quarterfinals, but it didn’t matter to the Stars as they commanded a 3-1 lead after one period on a pair of goals from Alexander Radoln and one from Blake Comeao. But back came the Avalanche in period two, coming away with two goals that brought a 3-3 tie, but then surrendering a goal from Dallas’ Tyler Secuin to have Dallas lead 4-3 heading into the third period.

It was a fierce defensive third period. Colorado was held in check despite getting away a barrage of shots halfway through the period, but the Stars got the go-ahead score from Roope Hintz with 7:36 remaining. Prior to that, they out shot the Avalanche 18-15. For Colorado, it was Nathan Mackinnon scoring twice and adding an assist, and Gabriel Landekog coming away with a goal and assist.

The teams go at it again Tuesday night, with Colorado being the third seed and Dallas the fifth.

Sunday finds the Eastern Conference semis match-up between the 2nd-seeded Tampa Bay Lightening and the 4th-seeded Boston Bruins. In the other Western Conference semis, the No. 1-seeded Las Vegas Golden Knights face the 5th-seedead Vancouver Canucks, who moved on by skating past the 4th-seeded, defending champion, St. Louis Blues in six games. Las Vegas had no problem topping the 8th-seeded Chicago BlackHawks in five games.