Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche Disappoint NHL Fans with Game 3 Loss vs. Seguin, Stars

Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche outshot, but couldn't outscore, the Dallas Stars in a 4-1 Game 3 loss Sunday night at Ball Arena.

Stars center Tyler Seguin's second-period goal made the difference as the Avalanche fell into a 2-1 Eastern Conference semifinals series deficit.

Fans were disappointed by the Avalanche's effort, especially in the third period. The 2022 Stanley Cup champions were outshot 10-7 while trailing in the final frame.

MacKinnon was held to one assist after failing to record a point for the first time this postseason during the Avalanche's Game 2 loss.

Colorado netminder Alexandar Georgiev finished the loss having turned aside 19 of 21 shots.

The Avalanche earned a trio of power-play opportunities in the first period, but were unable to convert on any.

It was the Stars that were first on the board as Logan Stankoven scored his first career playoff goal in the final minutes of the first period.

MacKinnon assisted on a Mikko Rantanen goal to even the score midway through the second period:

But the tie lasted just five minutes before Evgenii Dadonov fed Tyler Seguin to put the Stars back ahead.

Seguin and Stankoven each scored their second goals of the night with empty netters that sealed the victory for Dallas.

The Stars were able to hold on to their lead in large part thanks to goaltender Jake Oettinger.

Oettinger made 28 saves to hold the Avs, a team that averaged an NHL-best 3.68 goals per game during the regular season, to just one strike.

MacKinnon and the Avalanche will look to even the series in Game 4. The puck drops Monday in Denver at 10:30 p.m. ET.