Live updates: Stars strike first in pivotal Game 3 thanks to rookie Logan Stankoven

A rollercoaster of a second-round series thus far between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche continues Saturday with a pivotal Game 3.

After Dallas collapsed in a Game 1 loss and nearly did the same in its Game 2 win, the Stars take the ice for the series’ third game perhaps seeking a bit of stability and consistency. They’d surely take another early, multi-goal lead, though they’ve made a production out of clinging to those leads vs. the Avs.

Can the Stars strike early again, this time on enemy ice in Denver? Is another nail-biting third period in store? Follow along below for live updates as the puck drops for Game 3.

Who to follow: @lassimak, @dmn_stars

Game updates:

Second period, 12:30 remaining: The score remains 1-0. Both goalies have traded highlight saves in the second period, though the Stars’ shots on goal are still few and far between. They’ve got just seven to Colorado’s 16.

Dallas will go on its first power play of the game when action resumes.

Second period, 18:00 remaining: The Stars began the second period with some penalty kill cleanup left over from the first period. Dallas shut down the Colorado powerplay for the third time tonight, keeping the score 1-0.

End of 1st: Stars 1, Avalanche 0

First period, 1:21 remaining: The Stars strike first.

21-year-old Logan Stankoven notches the first playoff goal of his young career to give the Stars a 1-0 lead just before the end of the first period. Dallas takes the lead into the intermission.

First period, 4:00 remaining: Dallas has killed off its second penalty of the game, a trend they probably won’t want to continue. The Stars have committed three penalties in the first period, the first negated by a coinciding Colorado penalty.

It wasn’t without a close call, as Jake Oettinger got a little help on this near-goal for the Avs:

First period, 9:50 remaining: The Stars and Avs are scoreless through the first half of the first period, but the same blistering pace that we saw in the first two games has continued. Goalies Jake Oettinger and Alexander Georgiev have held up so far, however.

The Stars killed off the game’s first powerplay after a Mason Marchment penalty, though the biggest play that occurred on Colorado’s man-advantage was Georgiev’s stop on a Jamie Benn shorthanded breakaway attempt.

Game remains 0-0.

Pregame updates:

8:37 p.m.: Stars expected lines:

Robertson-Hintz-Stankoven

Marchment-Duchene-Seguin

Benn-Johnston-Pavelski

Dadonov-Steel-Smith

Harley-Heiskanen

Lindell-Tanev

Suter-Lundkvist

Oettinger

Pregame reading

— Stars brace for adjustments while playing in altitude at Ball Arena

— Jamie Benn’s physicality unraveled the Stars last postseason. This year, it’s set a tone

— Miro Heiskanen’s ‘quiet swagger,’ impact on Stars’ postseason shouldn’t be overlooked

— Dallas’ stars finally shine in Game 2 win vs. Avalanche: ‘The right guys got on the board’

— Five thoughts from Stars-Avalanche Game 2: Big names have big night as Dallas evens series

Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.