What Went Wrong: Everything's Bigger in Texas, Including the Screwjobs

As a wrestling fan, I know a screwjob when I see one, and on the evening of May 3, 2025, every fan of the Colorado Avalanche saw it. It was loud, live, and in living color. We were cheated out of Game Seven, though let's face facts: the screwjob started from Game Two on.

It was plain as day. The referees were flat out allergic to calling anything on Dallas. And it was much worse than last year, and I know why. Last year, the Stars were the healthier team. All hands were on deck, while the Avs were not only still without Gabriel Landeskog, but Valeri Nichushkin pulled another disappearing act. This year, Dallas had no Jason Robertson and no Miro Heiskanen. In Game Three, he returned. After nearly three years, Gabriel Landeskog, O Captain, OUR Captain, was back!!! So yeah, this was the healthiest that the Avs were since 2022. And we had blasted Dallas in Game One.

So the refs decided to work overtime to screw us. They gave Dallas Game Two. They REALLY gave Dallas Game Three, though the bad OT cost us in the end. After getting blanked in Game Four to make it 2-2, the refs really decided to call absolutely nothing on Dallas in Game Five. The Avs won Game Six in dominant fashion because when a game is actually officiated without any bias whatsoever, the Avs win. So Game Seven was forced. Nothing in the first. Avs up 1-0 after two via a shortie. We scored in the third. Dallas got on the board, but even so, we were in control. We even had a rare power play in the game.

And then the refs make up some BS to call on Cale Makar. Momentum sapped, and the game's tied later on. Even so, it looked good. Then a penalty is called. Tyler Seguin viciously tackles Jack Drury, but it's Drury going to the box. HOW?! Stars take the lead, momentum gone, empty netter in, season over.

Seriously, the Stars owe the refs so many steak dinners.

Here's the thing. If we had lost this fair and square, I wouldn't be ranting like this. But we didn't. This series was fixed from the get-go. Dallas is coached by Peter DeBoer, and one thing I've known since 2021 is this: he can't beat the Avs in a fair fight. He bullies refs into not calling anything on his teams, and sadly, they listen. He had the nerve to bitch about penalties against Dallas in Game Six, a game where the Avs only had two power plays. Refs refused to call anything on Dallas; our players would get hooked, mugged, and roughed, but the refs swallowed their whistles. But if we breathed on a Stars player, it's a penalty.

Even worse than the refs kissing Peter DeBoer's ring was another indignity we had to sit through: Mikko Rantanen owning us in the last two games. After being a massive non-factor for the first five games, he exploded in the last two, including a Hat Trick in Game Seven. Seriously, we are doomed to have known ex-Avs eliminate us in the playoffs. Two years ago, it was Philipp Grubauer. Last year, it was Matt Duchene. This year? Death by Moose Tracks.

OK, rant over, sort of. Let's go to the numbers.

I know the playoffs have nothing to do with this, but how in the blue hell is Nathan MacKinnon not a finalist for the Hart Trophy this year? Seriously, does anyone have any fairness towards the Avs?! 11 points in seven games in the playoffs, and seven of those points went in the net. In the regular season, Mack finished second in points by choice, because he bowed out to get ready for the playoffs, while Nikita Kucherov accepted his free Ross Trophy before pulling his usual disappearing act in the playoffs and losing to a glorified AHL team. BTW, the second highest point total for the Avs in this series? Six. Of all people, that was Logan O'Connor with that total, and one of those points was an assist on the shortie in Game Seven.

As the numbers show, Mack carried the team. Even Cale Makar wasn't up to par, and that's damning. Makar only finished with five points. Landeskog played two fewer games, but had one fewer point. Valeri Nichushkin showed up to the dance; only four points, but three of them went in the net. Same with Artturi Lehkonen. Seeing Landeskog back in action made me so happy; I teared up when he returned, and teared up even more when he put it in the net in Game Four. And next year, he'll be back full time. Beautiful!

One more thing. If you watch this series, and still believe the Avs get all of the calls, then I really can't help you. You are far gone. The ref privilege Dallas received was so nuclear. Even the Golden Knights and Oilers don't get that many calls. All that tells me is this: Dallas can't win a fair fight against us. That's a fact. And you know what's another fact? We'll be back, better than ever. That's for damn sure.