Colin Blackwell gets his chance and rises to occasion for Stars with OT winner in NHL playoffs

DALLAS (AP) — Colin Blackwell was hoping for another crack at the playoffs when he signed with the Dallas Stars in free agency last summer. This is his sixth team in seven NHL seasons, and he had only been in the postseason one other time.

After being a healthy scratch for the Stars' playoff opener, he got his shot and changed the trajectory of their first-round series against Colorado with his overtime goal for a 4-3 win in Game 2 on Monday night.

“I always felt my game’s kinda built for the playoffs and stuff along those lines. I love rising to the occasion and playing in moments like this” Blackwell said. “That was a big win for us. I think if we go into Colorado down 2-0, it’s a different series. I think that’s why you’re only as good as your next win or your next shift.”

Blackwell's only previous playoff experience was a seven-game series with Toronto in a first-round loss to Tampa Bay three years ago.

Stars coach Pete DeBoer talked to Blackwell when he didn't play in Game 1 on Saturday.

“(I) said be ready, you’re not going to be out long,” DeBoer said. "I wanted to get him in Game 2. He's one of those energy guys. I thought after losing Game 1 we needed a little shot of energy. He’s a competitive player and I thought he was effective all night. But it’s also great to see a guy like that get a goal, out Game 1, work with the black aces, and then come in and play a part in playoff hockey.”

Blackwell scored 17:46 into overtime after his initial shot ricocheted off teammate Sam Steel and Avs defenseman Samuel Girard in front of the net. But with the puck rolling loose on the ice, the fourth-line forward circled around and knocked it in for the winner.

The 32-year-old Blackwell, a Harvard graduate who played for Chicago the past two seasons, said he has often had to go in and out of lineups and has learned over the years to stay sharp mentally and keep working hard on and off the ice. In his first season for Dallas, he had 17 points (six goals, 11 assists) over 63 regular-season games.

“It’s been a long season, and not playing the first game, stuff like that, just kind of been in and out of the lineup toward the end here,” he said. “I don’t really worry about making a mistake. I just go out there and play hockey and good things happen.”

And they certainly did for the Stars, who were in danger of dropping their first two games at home in the first round for the second year in a row before his winning shot. Game 3 is Wednesday night in Denver.

“Colin’s one of those guys, especially me being out, I get to see how hard he works every day,” said Tyler Seguin, who missed 4 1/2 months after hip surgery before returning last week. “I get to see how he is in the gym. I get to see how good of a basketball player he is. There’s many things that I get to see with some of these guys that are in and out of the lineup. You’re just proud of a guy like him and what he did.”

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Dallas Stars players celebrate a game-winning goal by Colin Blackwell, not pictured, during overtime in Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche early Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dallas Stars center Colin Blackwell, right, is congratulated by teammates center Tyler Seguin (91) and goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) after scoring the game-winning goal against the Colorado Avalanche during overtime in Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series early Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

A shot by Dallas Stars center Colin Blackwell (15) gets by Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, right, for the game-winning goal during overtime in Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series early Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dallas Stars center Colin Blackwell (15) celebrates his game-winning goal with teammates defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin (46) and center Sam Steel (18) during overtime in Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche early Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dallas Stars center Colin Blackwell, left, and teammate center Sam Steel (18) react after Blackwell scored the game-wining goal on Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, second from right, during overtime in Game 2 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series early Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday that he will visit U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. The high-stakes meeting comes as Trump continues his trade war and annexation threats.

Carney's Liberal Party scored a stunning comeback victory in a vote widely seen as a rebuke of Trump, whose trade war and attacks on Canadian sovereignty outraged voters.

“We are meeting as heads of our government,” Carney said. “I am not pretending those discussions will be easy.”

In his first comments since election night, Carney said that Canadians elected a new government to stand up to Trump and build a strong economy.

Carney also said that King Charles III will deliver a speech outlining the Canadian government's priorities on May 27, when Parliament resumes. Charles is the head of state in Canada, which is a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies.

Queen Elizabeth II delivered the speech twice, in 1957 and 1977.

"That clearly underscores the sovereignty of our country,” Carney said.

Carney has emphasized Canada's founding nations, the United Kingdom and France, since becoming prime minister after the resignation of Justin Trudeau. Carney repeated that the old relationship with the U.S. based on steadily increasing integration is over.

"On Tuesday, I had a very constructive call with President Trump, and we agreed to meet next Tuesday in Washington," Carney said. “My government will fight to get the best deal for Canada.”

Carney previously said that Canada’s close friendship with the U.S. has ended and that the 80-year period when the U.S. embraced the mantle of global economic leadership and forged alliances rooted in trust and mutual respect is over.

Trump mocked Carney’s predecessor by calling him Governor Trudeau. He hasn’t trolled Carney.

Robert Bothwell, a University of Toronto professor of Canadian history and international relations, said that Carney shouldn't go to Washington, because he risks Trump insulting Canada and him too.

“There is absolutely no reason to. You can’t bargain with Trump. His word is not his bond. It’s like writing on the water of a pond, a scummy pond. We have nothing to gain,” Bothwell said.

Carney also outlined the priorities of his new government four days after Canadians voted in the Liberals for a fourth mandate. He said that a new Cabinet would be sworn in on May 12.

“Now the election is over, and we are in a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. It’s time to come together, to put on our Team Canada sweaters, and win big,” Carney said. “Now is the time for ambition, to be bold, to meet this crisis with the overwhelming, positive force of a united Canada.”

He said that he will call for an election for a specific district as soon as possible if the opposition Conservatives want Pierre Poilievre, who lost his own seat in the election, to run in a by-election so he can sit in the House of Commons.

“No games, nothing like that,” Carney said.

The Conservative Party announced shortly after that a current Conservative member of Parliament from Alberta will resign so Poilievre can run in that district.

Carney said that he had a constructive conversation with Poilievre about Canada's strategy with the Americans.

“I am in politics to do big things, not to be something,” Carney said.

Prime Minister Mark Carney laughs as he responds to a question during a news conference, in Ottawa, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during a news conference, in Ottawa, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime Minister Mark Carney waves to a member of the public as he walks through downtown during a news conference, in Ottawa, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime Minister Mark Carney smiles as he takes his seat at his first news conference since winning the federal election, in Ottawa, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime Minister Mark Carney is seen during a news conference, in Ottawa, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)

Security keeps a person from the right-wing media group Rebel News away from Prime Minister Mark Carney as he walks to a news conference, in Ottawa, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime Minister Mark Carney walks to his first news conference after winning the federal election, in Ottawa, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Friday, May 2, 2025. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)