Colorado Hockey Team: Avalanche Making Headlines
Article Rewrite:
Light up the rink, baby! Here's the scoop on Mikko Rantanen, the Finnish wonder who sent shockwaves through the NHL in the 2025 playoffs, particularly when he locked horns with his previous team, the Colorado Avalanche.
In 88 playoff games under his belt, this slick skater has netted 39 goals, dished out 74 assists, and boasts a plus-minus rating of +19[4]. It was during the 2025 playoffs that Rantanen truly lit the stage on fire, amassing a whopping 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) against the Avalanche in the first round, 11 of which came in the final three games[2].
But among these stats, there's one performance that stands above the rest – his earth-shattering Game 7 performance. In a breathtaking turn of events on May 3, 2025, Rantanen made history by scoring a third-period hat trick, snatching a 4-2 come-from-behind victory for the Dallas Stars and etching his name in the NHL's record books[2][3].
The cherry on top? His hat trick included two thrilling goals that erased a 2-0 deficit, an assist on Wyatt Johnston’s game-winning power-play goal, and an empty-netter to put the cherry on top[1][2].
The background to this rivalry is as riveting as the games themselves. Rantanen was traded from the Avalanche to Carolina in January 2025 due to contract disputes, only to be traded again to Dallas, where he signed an 8-year, $96 million extension[1][2]. With the added motivation of settling scores, Rantanen delivered, according to his coach Pete DeBoer, who stated, "He was a motivated guy to make an impact in this series"[1].
The emotional aftermath isn't devoid of warmth either. Rantanen referred to former teammates like Nathan MacKinnon as "brothers" but emphasized his focus on team success, saying, "I’m just happy to win in the playoffs. It doesn’t matter who it is"[1][2].
Rantanen's impressive 12-point series served as a driving force behind the Stars' victory, despite injuries to key players such as Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen[2]. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for Colorado, which found itself on the wrong end of their second first-round exit in three seasons[2].
Feeling the heat? Sign up for Breaking Avalanche News email alerts. By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and to receiving emails from our humble abode. Crave more Avalanche news? Don't forget to sign up for the Avalanche Insider for all our NHL analysis. Keep those engines revvin', folks!
Mikko Rantanen, the Finnish hockey star, made history in the 2025 NHL playoffs as he scored a hat trick in a Game 7 match against his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, solidifying his place in the league's record books. During the series, he contributed an impressive 12 points, including assists that assisted Wyatt Johnston's game-winning power-play goal and an empty-netter.
Rantanen's phenomenal performance came amidst contract disputes and subsequent trades, first to Carolina and later to Dallas, where he signed an 8-year, $96 million extension. The added motivation to settle scores paid off, with Rantanen's coach, Pete DeBoer, stating that he was "a motivated guy to make an impact in this series."
Despite teammates like Nathan MacKinnon being labeled as "brothers," Rantanen highlighted his primary focus on team success over past affiliations, stating, "I’m just happy to win in the playoffs. It doesn't matter who it is." The victories, however, were bittersweet for Colorado, marking their second first-round exit in three seasons.
Despite injuries to key players such as Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen, Mikko Rantanen's 12-point series played a significant role in the Dallas Stars' playoff triumph. For those interested in the latest Avalanche news, sign up for the Breaking Avalanche News email alerts or the Avalanche Insider for comprehensive NHL analysis.
