Stars edge out Avalanche in seven games, thanks to Rantanen's hat-trick heroics
In the heart of Texas, Mikko Rantanen lit up the ice and led the Dallas Stars to a stunning 4-2 victory over his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, in Game 7 of their playoff series.
Rantanen, the Finnish force, scored a power-play goal at 16:04 of the final period, aided by Wyatt Johnston, before sealing the deal with an empty-netter at 19:57.
The multi-talented Rantanen, in his seventh consecutive playoff series with the Avalanche and boasting a 2022 Stanley Cup win, logged four points in a single period for the second time in the series against his ex-team. He Tallied five goals and 12 points in this dramatic series.
Speaking after the game, Rantanen expressed his confidence in the team, confessing that he "expected the series to go the distance."
Acquired by the Stars in March 2025 after a mid-season trade from the Carolina Hurricanes, Rantanen has donned the jerseys of the Hurricanes (January–March) and the Avalanche (2015–2025) before finding his home in Dallas.
Rantanen admitted to the difficult experience of being traded twice in a season, stating, "It's not fun to be traded once, let alone twice..." However, despite the Fast-paced changes, he still cherishes his former teammates off the ice, confessing there were emotions involved.
With the Winnpeg Jets and the St. Louis Blues battling it out for their opponent, the Stars could potentially host the second round if the Blues emerge victorious.
Rantanen initiated a remarkable comeback, slicing through the Avalanche's two-goal lead with a wrist shot from the slot at 7:49 of the third period. Less than six minutes later, he leveled the playing field on a power play, with the puck deflecting off Samuel Girard's skate.
Johnston struck the series-deciding goal with a tight-angle shot, supported by Matt Duchene’s pinpoint pass.
The winning goalkeeper, Jake Oettinger, demonstrated his prowess by saving 24 shots. He sports an impressive 3-1 record in Game 7s following the victory.
Pete DeBoer, guiding the Stars, now boasts an unbeaten 9-0 record in Game 7s, dating back to 2012 with various teams.
Nathan MacKinnon provided the initial Avalanche lead (31 seconds into the third period) by exploiting the defenders' underestimation of space on the left side. Then, Josh Manson scored shorthanded (9:50 of the first period) after capitalizing on a Dallas turnover in the offensive zone.
Historically, the Avalanche have struggled in Game 7s, last advancing past this round in 2002, a streak that persists even after their heartbreaking exit in 2025. Coach Jared Bednar lamented the agonizing loss, admitting, “It hurts because you give your all throughout the season, and then it slips away.”
Rantanen, in his new role with the Dallas Stars, scored a critical power-play goal at 16:04 in the final period of Game 7, helping secure a 4-2 victory over his former team, the Colorado Avalanche. The Finnish forward also sealed the game with an empty-netter at 19:57.
In the series against his former team, Rantanen managed to tally five goals and a remarkable 16 points, including a four-point game in a single period.
Despite being traded twice in a season, Rantanen still cherishes his former teammates off the ice, as he admitted to the emotional experience of being traded.
Looking ahead, the Dallas Stars could potentially host the second round if the St. Louis Blues emerge victorious against the Winnipeg Jets. If this happens, Rantanen and his teammates will look to capitalize on the home-ice advantage in the next stage of the NHL playoffs.
