The Dallas Stars fall flat in Game 4, getting shut out 4-0 by the Colorado Avalanche to even the series at 2-2.

Ryan and Chris deliver a full breakdown, including why the Stars' offense never showed up, how Jake Oettinger kept them alive longer than they deserved, and the defensive cracks that finally caught up to Dallas.

Plus:

Why the top six forwards are the biggest disappointment

Should Miro Heiskanen have played Game 4?

Is the Stars' defense running out of gas?

Must-win mentality heading into Game 5 at home

In true playoff fashion, Tyler Seguin scores before his bedtime, and Esa Lindell delivers an all-time clutch block in OT. The Dallas Stars now lead the series 2–1 — and they did it in dramatic, chaotic, and very Starcastic fashion.

Inside the episode:

Why Seguin’s goal was vintage and vital

Lindell’s monster penalty kill performance

Ottinger vs Blackwood: The sequel

More ref rage: the pick play, soft calls, and why no one’s happy

Mason Marchment’s penalty + redemption arc

Landeskog returns... and the Stars ruin the party

Miro Watch: Could #4 return in Game 4?

For the first time in two and a half weeks… GG boyiz.

The Dallas Stars finally get back in the win column, tying the series 1-1 with a dramatic OT victory over the Avalanche—and it’s Colin Blackwell of all people who gets the game-winner. Ryan, Chris, and James dive into a momentum-shifting Game 2 that brought:

Physicality from unexpected places

Smart coaching decisions (yes, really)

Oettinger standing tall when it mattered most

A fourth line that might’ve just become the first line

And a full AAC that nearly broke the sound barrier

This one had it all—nerves, chaos, late-night caffeine, and one massive sigh of relief from Stars fans everywhere. Let's talk about how the Stars adjusted, what still needs work, and how this series just got real.

Listen. Laugh. Exhale. Game 2 is in the books.

The Dallas Stars dropped Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in frustrating fashion, falling 5–1 to the Colorado Avalanche. But if you’re doomscrolling through the box score, don’t panic just yet. Ryan and Chris are here to break down why this game looked more like a turning point than a total collapse. From MacKenzie Blackwood’s unexpected playoff debut heroics to the Stars finally flipping the proverbial switch, there’s plenty to unpack—good, bad, and goalie’d.

We dive into:

Why the score doesn’t tell the whole story

Dallas’ resurgence in energy, structure, and physicality

Goaltending matchup: Blackwood vs. Oettinger

Key mistakes, missed chances, and special teams impact

The “hope meter” and what’s needed in Game 2

Plus, our Biggest Winner / Biggest Loser segment returns with some pointed takes.

It’s official—the Dallas Stars are opening the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a first-round clash against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday at 7:30 pm… fresh off a confidence-shattering seven-game winless streak. But hey—hope springs eternal (or irrationally), and it’s time to preview this matchup like our sanity depends on it.

This episode is your complete, unfiltered Stars vs. Avs Round 1 series preview, packed with in-depth analysis, overreactions, and cautious optimism:

🔍 Matchup Breakdown

How do the Stars’ forward lines stack up against Colorado’s newly assembled depth?

Does Jake Oettinger have a prayer against MacKinnon & Co.?

Can Dallas survive without Miro Heiskanen early—and does his return flip the series?

Will Rantanen’s “revenge tour” actually make a difference?

⚔️ Key Storylines

Seguin returns. Robo limps. Landeskog rises from the shadows.

Can Harley handle #1 defenseman duties?

Will Pete DeBoer get outcoached—or just out clapped?

🎯 Special Teams, X-Factors & Predictions

Power play chaos. Penalty kill panic.

The absolute must-win battles (spoiler: it’s center depth and goaltending).

Our predictions range from “Stars in 5” to “please just don’t get swept.”

If you want a full series preview with real hockey analysis, emotional whiplash, and a few desperate laughs—this is it.

Let’s preview this series like the flip is already switched.
#StarsVsAvs #DallasStars #TexasHockey #NHLPlayoffs #RiseFromTheAshes

The Dallas Stars drop their sixth straight game in a 6–4 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, and Ryan is officially spiraling. Chris, on the other hand, brings the “Who Cares?” energy, arguing this game was basically a preseason scrimmage with logos. In this episode, we break down another third-period collapse, wonder what the Stars are doing resting key players while Oettinger gets shelled, and debate whether this team is actually ready to face Colorado in Round 1. We also talk about lineup choices like Wyatt Johnston’s new role, Colin Blackwell vs. Mavrik Bourque, and whether Dallas should even entertain the idea of an 11-7 lineup (spoiler: no). Biggest Winner and Loser returns, plus a little preview of our upcoming full playoff preview episode and Ryan’s hype video debut.

The Stars played... technically. In their historic* first loss to the Utah Hockey Club (*for Utah, not Dallas), Ryan and Chris break down what happens when your penalty kill forgets to show up — and so does your defense. With Esa Lindell, Thomas Harley, and Jake Oettinger all resting up for the postseason, the Stars treated this game like the second preseason it truly was.

We dive into Matt Dumba somehow being the best defenseman on the ice (yes, really), Brendan Smith scoring a feel-good goal, and Jamie Benn continuing his cursed pursuit of #400. Plus: thoughts on Liam Bischel’s nerves, Petrovic’s audition, and why the penalty kill was MIA.

The Avalanche are locked in for Round 1. Landeskog is lurking. Sagan and Miro might return. Oh, and the flu is sweeping the locker room... great timing, boys.

So if you're wondering whether the Stars are ready for the playoffs — well — join us as we try to find out.

The Dallas Stars get blanked for the first time all season in a brutal 4-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, extending their losing streak to four and leaving fans (and hosts) searching for answers. Chris and James break down a night where Hellebuyck stood on his head, the third defensive pairing fell apart, and Stars fans rightfully booed the team off the ice.

We talk:

Hellebuyck’s Hart Trophy performance

Bischel and Dumba getting exposed

Lack of grit and scrappy play in front of the net

Whether the top line is earning its paycheck

What (if anything) gives us hope going into the playoffs

Boo birds, broken lines, and brutal honesty

After one of the most shocking late-game collapses in NHL memory, Ryan and Chris ask the question on every Dallas Stars fan’s mind: Is this team actually ready for the playoffs?

We break down the aftermath of the Vancouver game, explore how momentum (or the lack of it) is impacting the Stars, and debate whether leadership—or just bad luck—is to blame. From blog post deep dives to advanced stat breakdowns, we tackle what’s actually going wrong and whether it can be fixed in time for a deep run.

Also in this episode:

The myth of flipping the switch for playoffs

Why the fanbase feels betrayed

Jamie Benn’s postgame tone: problem or professionalism?

What momentum actually looks like

The fourth line’s surprising fire

Plus, we lighten things up with a “Who Cares?” segment featuring the top 3 movie theater snacks (excluding popcorn).

In one of the most jaw-dropping collapses in NHL history, the Dallas Stars blew a 3-goal lead in the final minute of regulation to the Vancouver Canucks — and somehow managed to lose 6–5 in overtime. The Stars had a 99.9% chance to win according to Moneypuck. And they still lost.

Chris, James, and Ryan are here to process the disaster in real time — and Ryan might need therapy after this one. We break down the third-period meltdown, the leadership vacuum, Pete DeBoer’s postgame reaction, and Jamie Benn’s baffling comments. Was this the most embarrassing loss in franchise history? Probably.

Plus:

Why this isn’t “just one bad game”

The Stars’ 3rd-period collapse trend

What this means for the playoffs

The brutal emotional damage to Stars fans everywhere

We’ve never done a podcast like this before — because hockey has never seen a game like this before.