DENVER (Interstat) — Roope Hintz scored in the fourth round of the shootout and Casey DeSmith stopped Brock Nelson to lift the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday at Ball Arena. The Stars improved to 3-4. The Avalanche fell to 4-3. The announced attendance was 18,107. Colorado had two apparent early goals disallowed, and the game stayed scoreless through a first period that featured strong goaltending at both ends.

DeSmith and Colorado goaltender Scott Wedgewood traded saves throughout the opening 20 minutes. Brock Nelson sent a wrist shot wide right early, and Gabriel Landeskog put a slap shot above the crossbar. Dallas generated chances when Tyler Seguin and Thomas Harley forced Wedgewood to work, while Justin Hryckowian and Radek Faksa also tested the Colorado net. Colorado’s Sam Malinski had a slap shot go short and a wrist shot saved by DeSmith. Nathan MacKinnon had a tip-in stopped by DeSmith, and Cale Makar put a wrist shot on net. The period included several penalties. Colorado’s Brett Kulak was called for roughing against Seguin. Dallas’s Miro Heiskanen was sent off for tripping against MacKinnon. Mikko Rantanen of Dallas received an interference penalty against Malinski, and Colorado’s Brent Burns was whistled for tripping against Colin Blackwell. Dallas’s Jamie Benn was called for roughing after removing an opponent’s helmet against Artturi Lehkonen. Both teams killed the penalties, and the game remained tied.

Dallas opened the scoring in the second period. Heiskanen scored his third goal of the season on a wrist shot, with Rantanen and Harley picking up assists. The goal came after sustained pressure and a faceoff win by the Stars. Colorado answered later in the period when Landeskog tipped in a shot in front. Nazem Kadri and Malinski assisted on the goal. The Avalanche nearly added another when MacKinnon put a backhand on DeSmith and later sent a wrist shot wide right. Dallas received scoring chances from Seguin, Jason Robertson, Jamie Benn and Lian Bichsel, but Wedgewood stood firm. The Stars also blocked shots from Malinski and Brett Kulak, while Radek Faksa and Colin Blackwell delivered hits to disrupt Colorado’s rhythm. The period ended with the teams even, and the physical play continued to rise.

The Stars moved back in front in the third period. Arttu Hyry took the puck away and scored on an unassisted backhand for his first goal of the season. Hyry nearly added another later in regulation when his wrist shot hit the left post. Colorado responded with a late surge. Brock Nelson tied the game on a wrist shot, with Lehkonen and Kadri assisting. The Avalanche had several chances to take the lead. Gavin Brindley hit the left post, Nazem Kadri hit the left post, and MacKinnon had a shot blocked. DeSmith made saves on Malinski, Artturi Lehkonen, Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon and Fedor Svechkov. Dallas’s penalty kill faced another test when Rantanen was called for tripping against Kadri. The Stars survived and forced overtime. Both teams had late looks, but neither could score before the extra period.

In overtime, Hyry continued to be involved. He hit Nathan MacKinnon and then created a takeaway. Thomas Harley put a slap shot on Wedgewood, and Hyry followed with a wrist shot that rang off the left post. Colorado’s Fedor Svechkov sent a backhand wide right. DeSmith did not face many shots in the extra period, but the Avalanche controlled stretches of possession. Dallas blocked shots and kept Colorado to the outside. The overtime ended without a goal, sending the game to a shootout.

In the shootout, Jason Robertson scored in the first round for Dallas. DeSmith then stopped Martin Necas. Wedgewood answered by stopping Tyler Seguin. Nazem Kadri scored on a backhand to pull Colorado even. Mikko Rantanen hit the right post for Dallas, and DeSmith denied Nathan MacKinnon. Hintz then scored in the fourth round with a wrist shot past Wedgewood. DeSmith secured the win by stopping Brock Nelson on the final attempt. The sequence gave Dallas the extra point and capped a game that had been tight from the opening faceoff.

DeSmith earned the win with 25 saves on 27 shots. He was the top star for Dallas. DeSmith, who made 24 saves on 26 shots in a recent loss at Nashville, recorded his first win of the season. Heiskanen finished with one goal, two shots on goal and two penalty minutes. Hyry scored one goal and had two shots. Brock Nelson scored one goal and had two shots for Colorado. Kadri had two assists and two shots. Malinski had one assist, four shots and two hits. Landeskog scored one goal and had two shots and one hit. Lehkonen had one assist, one shot and one hit. Hryckowian had two shots for Dallas. Robertson had three shots and one hit. The Stars also received a strong defensive effort from Harley, Esa Lindell and Nils Lundkvist, who blocked shots and limited Colorado’s second chances.

The win came after Dallas had lost to Colorado in the teams’ previous meeting, a 3-2 decision in Dallas. The Stars next play at Chicago. Colorado next hosts Pittsburgh. The Avalanche had won four of their first seven games, while Dallas moved to 3-4. The game was the second half of a back-to-back set for both teams, and the pace reflected it at times. Colorado pressed for a go-ahead goal in the third period, but DeSmith and the Dallas defense held. Dallas then found just enough offense in the shootout to leave Denver with the win.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Colorado 3, Dallas 2. Interstat’s ELO system gave Colorado a 61.3 percent pregame win probability. Colorado was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The over/under line was 5.5, and the game produced five goals. The result went against the simulation and the pregame favorite, giving Dallas the road victory.