Simulating Dallas vs. Colorado Game 3 in NHL 24
Thankfully, the last simulation we ran for this series did not accurately represent how Game 2 would play out. NHL 24 predicted a very sleepy and boring 3-1 win for Dallas. The Stars in real life were able to stave off a Colorado comeback this time in Game 2.
Just like it was for the Boston versus Florida series (until Game 3's prediction turned out to be wrong), the NHL video game has guessed the correct winner in Games 1 & 2.
This series in real life thus far has been action-packed and has had it's fair share of drama already. NHL 24 predicting a 4-3 overtime victory for Colorado in Game 3 seems like a pretty accurate prediction.
Here are the lines we used for the simulation:
Dallas' Projected Lines:
Robertson - Hintz - Stankoven
Benn - Johnston - Pavelski
Marchment - Duchene - Seguin
Dadonov - Steel - Smith
Harley - Heiskanen
Lindell - Tanev
Suter - Lundkvist
Oettinger
Wedgewood
Colorado's Projected Lines
Nichushkin - MacKinnon - Rantanen
Lehkonen - Mittelstadt - Parise
Wood - Colton - Kiviranta
Duhaime - Trenin - Cogliano
Toews - Makar
Girard - Manson
Johnson - Walker
Georgiev
Annunen
The first period was brisk with only 2 stoppages in play. One was the game's opening goal with 90 seconds left in the period by Avalanche winger Zach Parise.
The second period started with a flash as Valeri Nichushkin walked in off the opening faceoff and scored 22 seconds in to put Colorado up 2-0. Dallas answered five minutes later through a ridiculous behind-the-back feed from Wyatt Johnston to set up Jamie Benn in front of the net.
A couple more goals were scored one aside in the first five minutes of the third. With the goalie pulled and in the dying minutes of the game, Jason Robertson sends a clapper by Georgiev to send this game into overtime.
Both teams somehow went a full 60 minutes without taking a penalty. Alas, right off the bat to start overtime, Jason Robertson trips up his man sending the Avs to the powerplay.
The Stars had only 11 seconds left on Robertson's penalty to kill. But Hart Trophy finalist Nathan MacKinnon scored what could only be best described as a garbage goal to give Colorado the win.
The Avalanche had two-point performances by Parise (two goals), MacKinnon, Nichushkin, Mittelstadt, and Makar.
Dallas' Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston each recorded two points and Jake Oettinger was the busier netminder of the two allowing four goals on 30 shots.
For more NHL 24 playoff simulations, bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site.