Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is one of the best players in the NHL at his position and he reminded everyone of that on Wednesday night. With his team facing elimination in their Second Round series against the Dallas Stars, Makar showed up in a big way.

“Obviously, a do-or-die game from here on out in the series,” Makar said. “Each of us, we feed off each other.

“And I felt like we were back to kind of like forcing their hand tonight.”

Cale Makar led the way for the Colorado Avalanche, scoring two goals in the 5-3 victory. His second was the game-winner, as it gave Colorado a 4-2 lead early in the third period and control for the first time.

The goal by Casey Mittelstadt to give the Avalanche a 3-2 lead is the first time they have led in this series. Their only other lead was in Game 1, when Miles Wood scored 11 minutes into overtime to give them a 1-0 lead in the series.

“It was great,” league MVP finalist Nathan MacKinnon said about Colorado playing with a lead. “They didn’t do that much, but anytime we can get a lead, it’s important, so we’re not chasing all series.”

A big reason the Colorado Avalanche were able to stave off elimination in Game 5 was their improved power play performance. They entered the game going 0-for-8 in their last three losses but converted twice, each time tying the game after the Stars took a one-goal lead.

Their first goal of the game, scored by Atturi Lehkonen, came with only one second remaining in the first period. The second power play goal was scored by Cale Makar, who fired a long-range wrist shot through traffic that found the back of the net.

With the victory, the Colorado Avalanche will now host the Star in Game 6 at home on Friday night. The Avalanche need to find a way to perform better on their home ice, as the Stars outscored them 9-2 in Games 3 and 4.

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