Roope Hintz, Nathan MacKinnon Fight Highlights Stars’ 3-2 Loss

By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews

DALLAS, Oct. 13, 2026 — Roope Hintz had unfinished business with Nathan MacKinnon, and Tuesday night, the two finally dropped the gloves. Hintz landed several punches, and blood was running down MacKinnon’s face when the fight ended. Hintz later scored to bring Dallas within one, but the Colorado Avalanche had the last word, defeating the Stars 3-2 before a sellout crowd of 18,532 at American Airlines Center.

Seven months earlier, a collision with MacKinnon had ended Hintz’s season and kept him out of the playoffs. Their second-period confrontation brought that history back into focus.

Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said Hintz appeared agitated from the start.

“I knew right from the start he looked agitated with the whole thing,” Gulutzan said, referring to last season’s injury.

MacKinnon described the fight as “two guys playing hard” after exchanging slashes. He said his visor cut his nose but acknowledged Hintz landed several good punches.

“My visor cut me. [Roope Hintz] definitely got me with a couple of good ones too. He’s a big guy,” MacKinnon said.

Tyler Seguin said Hintz’s fighting ability surprised him.

“I think his talent and technique in the fight maybe was the surprise, but good on him,” Seguin said.

Missed chances, costly penalties

Dallas created several opportunities in the first period, including an early chance by Colin Blackwell that forced a difficult save from Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood. The Stars also generated chances through takeaways in Colorado’s zone but struggled to finish.

Artturi Lehkonen opened the scoring at 11:32, assisted by MacKinnon and Josh Manson.

Dallas answered late in the period on the power play when Seguin’s centering attempt deflected off an Avalanche player’s skate and into the net. Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen assisted.

The teams entered the first intermission tied 1-1, with Dallas leading 13-9 in shots.

Martin Nečas put Colorado ahead 2-1 at 3:05 of the second period.

Dallas responded with sustained pressure, including a sequence of four shots that Blackwood stopped. But the Stars couldn’t convert.

Colorado then capitalized on Dallas’ penalty trouble. A cross-checking penalty followed by a tripping call gave the Avalanche a brief 5-on-3 advantage. Nečas scored again at 16:14, extending Colorado’s lead to 3-1.

Hintz brings Dallas back

Hintz cut the deficit to 3-2 at 3:17 of the third period, scoring off a setup from behind the Colorado net. Seguin and Heiskanen assisted.

The Stars kept pressing, but a holding penalty interrupted their momentum. The call drew loud chants of “Ref, you suck!” from the home crowd.

Colorado threatened on the power play, but Jake Oettinger made an important save before Dallas cleared the puck.

As Dallas searched for the tying goal, “Let’s Go Stars!” chants echoed through the arena.

With 1:48 remaining, Dallas pulled Oettinger for an extra attacker. Blackwood stopped another attempt, while Colorado narrowly missed an empty-net goal when the puck hit the post.

Dallas finished with a 26-25 edge in shots but couldn’t find the equalizer.

A better effort, same result

Gulutzan believed Dallas had played well enough to win.

“I thought we were good tonight. It’s two good teams playing. I thought it was a really good hockey game. I thought we were slightly better,” he said.

The difference was finishing opportunities.

“We need to put something home five-on-five and capitalize on some of our chances that we did create,” Gulutzan said.

Mikko Rantanen agreed Dallas needed more patience offensively.

“We were kind of rushing it a little bit today,” Rantanen said. “I feel offensively, we’d get it and then throw it away right away, so we need a little more poise.”

Gulutzan praised the team’s response after its previous loss to Pittsburgh and singled out Seguin, calling it his best game of the season.

Colorado coach Jared Bednar praised Blackwood, calling it probably his best performance of the season. Blackwood finished with 24 saves, while Oettinger made 22.

Johnston out for rematch

Dallas played without Wyatt Johnston, who was scratched because of illness. Gulutzan said Johnston participated in morning skate and arrived at the arena but couldn’t play. He will also miss Wednesday’s rematch.

Before the game, five-year-old cancer survivor Kaylin Lee rang the bell at center ice as part of Hockey Fights Cancer Night.

The Stars, now 2-3-1, face Colorado again Wednesday at Ball Arena in Denver.