Johnston’s record-setting starter goal came off the opening faceoff, when he shot from the immediate left of the net. The 21-year-old forward already in his 43rd career playoff game was skating toward the back wall and passing the red line when he took the shot that ricocheted off Blackwood.

Wyatt Johnston scored nine seconds in for the quickest goal ever to start a playoff game for the Dallas Stars – Game 6 is Thursday night in Denver.

It would be hard not to compare and contrast the current state of the Avalanche to what the organization faced after Game 4 against the Dallas Stars a season ago.