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The Dallas Stars have led for just over a minute of regulation through three games – yet they hold a 2-1 series lead over the Colorado Avalanche heading into Saturday night’s Game 4 in Denver.

It’s clear what’s gotten the Stars here. Stellar goaltending from Jake Oettinger, a clutch penalty kill and timely efforts from veteran leaders have fueled back-to-back overtime wins and flipped the momentum in this first-round series. But for all that’s gone right, there are still warning signs: early deficits, a quiet top line and too many ill-timed penalties that could eventually tip the balance back toward Colorado.

Here’s a look at what’s been working – and what hasn’t – for the Stars through the first three games of the series.

Goaltender Jake Oettinger

The Stars wouldn’t be holding a 2-1 series lead without Oettinger. The 26-year-old goaltender has once again elevated his game in the playoffs, delivering the kind of clutch performance the team has come to expect in recent postseason runs.

While he’s taken criticism at times for inconsistency and the occasional soft goal, Oettinger seems to thrive when the stakes are highest. He stopped 27 of 28 shots in Wednesday’s 2-1 overtime win, bouncing back after an early goal from Valeri Nichushkin and making several key saves to keep Dallas in it.

Back-to-back overtime wins have swung the series in the Stars’ favor, and Oettinger has been at the center of it all.

Penalty Kill Delivers When It Matters Most

The Stars’ penalty kill has been nothing short of outstanding, keeping Dallas alive in high-pressure moments throughout this series. In both Games 2 and 3, Dallas had to start overtime shorthanded – and both times, the PK unit came up huge. Game 3, in particular, saw Esa Lindell put on a clinic, logging more than eight minutes shorthanded and making a game-saving block during a frantic 3:21 kill to open OT.

So far, the Stars’ penalty kill is running at 84.6% this postseason, neutralizing Colorado’s dangerous power play. Game 2’s kill was just as crucial, with Dallas shutting down the Avalanche’s man advantage for the final stretch of regulation and into overtime. Without these clutch efforts, the series could look very different right now.

Veterans Stepping Up: Benn and Seguin Deliver

Playoff experience matters, and the Stars’ veteran core is proving why. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin have both found the scoresheet in this series, with Seguin netting the Game 3 overtime winner and Benn scoring a key power-play goal to tie the game in the third period.

You could argue they’ve been the Stars’ two best forwards in this series. Their leadership and knack for big moments have helped steady the team, especially as Dallas navigates injuries and tight games. As the series wears on, the Stars will continue to rely on their seasoned veterans to set the tone.

Giving up early deficits

Dallas has been forced to play from behind in all three games so far, allowing Colorado to grab the early advantage each time. It’s been well documented that the Stars have only played with a lead for about a minute through three games. If Dallas can get out front early in Game 4 – especially by more than a goal – it could be the push needed to keep the Avalanche on their heels, sweep both games in Denver and head home with a commanding grip on the series.

Production from Rantanen and the Finnish Line

When coach Pete DeBoer shuffled the lines in Game 2 to form the all-Finnish trio of Mikael Granlund, Roope Hintz, and Mikko Rantanen, the goal was to ignite the Stars’ top unit. While the line has shown flashes of chemistry, Dallas needs more production from the trio at even strength.

Rantanen, in particular, is under the spotlight as the team’s major trade deadline acquisition and $12-million man. If this group – and especially Rantanen – can break through offensively, it could spark a surge of much-needed scoring for the Stars.

Penalties late in games

Taking penalties is never ideal in the playoffs — especially late in games. Giving Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Colorado’s top power play extra chances is a dangerous gamble. Costly penalties by Mason Marchment and Rantanen have forced Dallas to start overtime shorthanded twice in this series. If the Stars want to maintain control, they’ll need to stay disciplined and keep MacKinnon and Makar off the man advantage.

How to watch: Puck drop at 8:30 p.m. (probably closer to 9 p.m.) from Ball Arena in Denver. Watch on Victory+ and TNT. All playoff games can be heard on The Ticket.

Mikael Granlund (64) – Roope Hintz (24) – Mikko Rantanen (96)Mason Marchment (27) – Matt Duchene (95) – Tyler Seguin (91)Jamie Benn (14) – Wyatt Johnston (53) – Evgenii Dadonov (63)

Oskar Bäck (10) – Sam Steel (18) – Colin Blackwell (15)

Thomas Harley (55) – Ilya Lyubushkin (46)Esa Lindell (23) – Cody Ceci (44)

Lian Bichsel (6) – Alex Petrovic (28)

Jake Oettinger (29)

Casey DeSmith (1)

Artturi Lehkonen (62) – Nathan MacKinnon (29) – Martin Necas (88)Gabriel Landeskog (92) – Brock Nelson (11) – Valeri Nichushkin (13)Jonathan Drouin (27) – Charlie Coyle (10) – Joel Kiviranta (94)

Parker Kelly (17) – Jack Drury (18) – Logan O’Connor (25)

Devon Toews (7) – Cale Makar (8)Ryan Lindgren (55) – Josh Manson (42)Samuel Girard (49) – Sam Malinski (70)Mackenzie Blackwood (39)

Scott Wedgewood (41)