Dallas Stars in familiar hole after 6th Game 1 1oss. Avs look to put them down 0-2 again

The Dallas Stars are in an all-too familiar hole.

This is their sixth consecutive playoff series over three postseasons, the fourth at home, that they go into Game 2 after losing the opener.

“It's not ideal, we know that. And it's definitely not the plan,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said Wednesday.

“You’re kind of playing with fire when you put yourself in that position enough,” forward Joe Pavelski said.

When they play Game 2 of their second-round Western Conference series against Colorado on Thursday night (9:30 p.m. ET/TNT), the Stars will try to avoid a repeat of the opening round. Two weeks ago, they lost the first two games at home to Vegas, last year’s Stanley Cup champion, though they did fight back to win in seven games.

In the only other NHL playoff game Thursday, the Carolina Hurricanes go home in their own 0-2 hole to the Rangers. New York has won all six of its games this postseason after a 4-3 double-overtime victory Tuesday night.

Dallas twice last year lost Game 1 at home, but won the second one each series on way to rebounding to advance: in six games against Minnesota, and seven over Seattle.

The 2022 Cup champion Avalanche have won five games in a row since opening these playoffs with a wild 7-6 loss at Winnipeg. Colorado won 4-3 in overtime at Dallas, after a full week between games and then trailing 3-0 in the first period.

“I definitely feel better when I’m in a rhythm," said Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, who scored the game-tying goal in the first minute of the third period. “I don’t love taking time off. But I think we’ll feel better as we play (Games) 2-3-4.”

Colorado has four players that have tallied points in every game this postseason: league MVP finalist MacKinnon, defenseman Cale Makar, former Stars first-round draft pick Valeri Nichushkin and Mikko Rantannen. All have multiple goals.

The Stars are still waiting for some of their big scorers to get going this postseason.

Pavelski, whose 73 career playoff goals are the most ever for a U.S.-born player and the most among active players, still doesn't have one this postseason and just got his first assist in Game 1 against the Avs. Matt Duchene has only one goal, and the lone score for Roope Hintz without any assists was an empty-net goal against Vegas. Rookie Logan Stankoven had six goals his first 12 games after his NHL debut in late February, but hasn't found the net since — the last 12 regular-season games and eight playoff games.

“The strength of our team all year has been if Roope Hintz's line doesn’t score, then Matt Duchene's line scores. If Matt Duchene's line doesn’t score, then Wyatt Johnston’s line scores. If none of those guys score, our fourth line scores,” DeBoer said. “Our depth has to show up in this series.”

The special-teams battle has been a rout so far. Carolina must find a way to close that gap.

The teams ranked in the top three in the regular season on both the power play and the penalty kill, including Carolina leading the league on the kill (86.4%). Yet the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Rangers have two goals on the power play in each of the first two games while the Hurricanes are 0 for 10, going 0 for 5 in both games.

“At this time of year, special teams can win a series, win games,” Rangers defenseman Adam Fox said after Tuesday’s double-overtime win decided on – what else? – a power-play goal.

As Carolina forward Martin Necas said Wednesday: “Everybody knows it’s about the power plays and PKs. So far, they crushed us in those.”

Carolina has managed a total of 10 shots on goal on the power play so far.

“We’ve got to get a little more at the net, a little more inside,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “They’re keeping us to the outside a little too much and we’re settling for that."

The Hurricanes have plenty of stats that have gone in their favor, posting a 20-shot advantage (82-62) and a 188-142 edge in shot attempts. Carolina has also outscored the Rangers in 5-on-5 play (5-4) and even strength (6-4), while also doubling the Rangers in shots on goal (30-15) in the third period.

Carolina has also won 53.1% of faceoffs through the two games, reversing road troubles from the first-round series against the New York Islanders (35%).

“Obviously it’s frustrating because you don’t feel like you deserve to lose two in a row there,” Necas said. “Special teams decided both of the games and they were better at those.”

AP Sports Writer Aaron Beard contributed to this report.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

New York Rangers left wings Chris Kreider (20) and defenseman Adam Fox (23) react to center Vincent Trocheck's (16) game-winning goal in the second overtime in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in New York. The Rangers won 4-3. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin controls the puck in the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Stars' Jamie Benn (14), Wyatt Johnston, from left rear, Nils Lundkvist and Joe Pavelski (16) celebrate after Johnston scored in the first period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche in Dallas, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Carolina Hurricanes center Martin Necas, defenseman Brady Skjei and New York Rangers left wing Will Cuylle fight for the puck during the first period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Colorado Avalanche's Artturi Lehkonen (62), Mikko Rantanen, second from left, Cale Makar (8) and Valeri Nichushkin (13) celbrate a goal scored by Makar in the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Stars head coach Pete DeBoer, center standing, Matt Duchene (95), Logan Stankoven (11) and Tyler Seguin (91) watch play in the third period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche in Dallas, Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

MIAMI (AP) — Harrison Bader and Tyrone Taylor each drove in two runs in a four-run first inning, star closer Edwin Díaz was not used in a save situation and the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 7-3 on Sunday for just their second win in seven games.

Brandon Nimmo homered and Francisco Lindor singled twice following a 1-for-27 skid as the Mets rebounded from blowing a four-run, ninth-inning lead on Saturday and avoided a three-game sweep. New York stopped Miami’s four-game winning streak.

“You’re not defined by what you do the day before. You’re defined by how you get up from adversity,” Lindor said. “We wanted this one for sure. I think it’s important to win after a tough loss like that.”

Sean Manaea (3-1) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings. Sean Reid-Foley and Jake Diekman pitched an inning each, and Reed Garrett got his second save by allowing one hit over two innings with four strikeouts in a 34-pitch outing.

Díaz has a 10.80 ERA over his last eight appearances after serving up four homers in 8 1/3 innings. He has blown three of his last four save chances.

“We all believe in him. We all know he’s going to be back,” Garrett said. “Whenever my name’s called, I’ll pitch, but I know as a collective unit we all believe in Edwin and we know what he can do.”

New York (21-25) had dropped five games under .500 on Saturday for the first time since an 0-5 start.

“Not an easy weekend, not the way we expected, but we just have to continue to move forward,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Today was a huge win for us.”

With New York ahead 4-3, Nimmo hit a two-run homer off Anthony Bender in a three-run ninth that included Brett Baty’s RBI single.

“I was just looking for a good pitch in the middle of the plate to drive,” Nimmo said. “I was able to hit that ball — good launch angle — and hit it hard. Found its way out of the ballpark.”

Nimmo returned to the lineup Saturday after missing two games because of a stomach illness.

“I’m coming around,” Nimmo said. “It’s been a little bit of a journey the last three days to get over the sickness. Right now, I’m just trying to get some appetite back. I’m definitely not at 100%. Just trying to battle through it and glad that I was able to help out there at the end and solidify the win.”

Dane Myers hit a two-run homer in the second, and Christian Bethancourt had a solo drive in the seventh against DIekman.

Sixto Sánchez (0-2) allowed four runs and six hits in four innings. He gave up Taylor’s two-out double in the first and Bader’s single.

“He was obviously better second through the fourth inning but he put us in a hole early,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “At this level it’s hard to come back from four runs every single time. He’s not giving his teammates a chance to win.”

Miami recalled right-handed reliever Emmanuel Ramirez from Jacksonville and optioned right-handed reliever Anthony Maldonado to the Triple-A farm team.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: DH J.D. Martinez (flu symptoms) didn’t play but was available to pinch hit. Mendoza said Martinez played through the illness the prior two days.

Marlins: INF Tim Anderson (lower back tightness) homered and had three singles in five at-bats during a rehab game with Jacksonville on Saturday, then went 0 for 4 with a walk on Sunday.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Tylor Megill (0-1, 2.25) will start the opener of a three-game series at Cleveland on Monday. RHP Ben Lively (2-2, 3.06) will start for the Guardians.

Marlins: LHP Ryan Weathers (2-4, 3.81) is scheduled to start the opener of a three-game home series against Milwaukee on Monday. The Brewers will go with RHP Joe Ross (2-4, 4.61).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' Sean Manaea delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo (9) and Francisco Lindor (12) congratulate each other after they scored on a double by Tyrone Taylor, during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader is unable to catch a ball hit by Miami Marlins' Josh Bell for a double, during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Miami Marlins third base Emmanuel Rivera, right, tags out New York Mets' Harrison Bader as he slides into third base during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets center fielder Harrison Bader (44) catches a ball hit by Miami Marlins' Josh Bell as both he and left fielder Tyrone Taylor (15) vie for the ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

New York Mets relief pitcher Reed Garrett, right, and catcher Omar Narvaez celebrate after the Mets beat the Miami Marlins 7-3, during a baseball game, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)