Stars secure thrilling victory thanks to Mikko Rantanen's four-point third period, eliminating his former team from playoffs.
Get ready for the re-telling of one of the most thrilling Game 7 performances in NHL history! Mikko Rantanen, a former Colorado Avalanche star, proved he's still got it when he bagged a hat trick and dished an assist against his ex-team during Dallas Stars' triumph in the playoffs.
Let's paint the picture: Rantanen, who claimed his place among the Avalanche's top 10 scorers throughout an 8-year stint, became the toast of Colorado when they lifted the Stanley Cup in 2022. However, the organization's salary cap constraints made him a prime candidate for a trade in mid-2024. Colorado sent him to the Carolina Hurricanes, a stint Rantanen couldn't shake off his boots soon enough.
With no contract extension in sight, Rantanen found himself in the crosshairs of another trade, this time to the Dallas Stars at the 2024 trade deadline. In a move that raised more than a few eyebrows, Dallas inked him to an eight-year, $96 million contract without blinking an eye. Dallas parted with a couple of first-round and third-round picks and prospect Logan Stankoven to get the Finnish forward on board.
Rantanen didn't disappoint in his first playoff series against his former team. With the Stars trailing 2-0 in the final period of Game 7, Rantanen turned the tide single-handedly, scoring a hat trick and notching an assist as Dallas dumped the Avalanche out of the 2025 playoffs. His game-tying and empty-net goals came in the third, making him just the second player to pull off a four-point performance in the third period of a Game 7.
Critics can't help but marvel at Rantanen's ability to dig deep when the pressure's on. With Dallas now his home, it seems Rantanen is ready to let history repeat itself with the Stars’ hopes pinned on him. Stay tuned!
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- The thrilling Game 7 performance in NHL history that's about to be recounted involved Mikko Rantanen, who had a remarkable outing against his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, when he was with the Dallas Stars.
- Hailing from Toronto, hockey fans worldwide witnessed one of the most dramatic tiebreaking moments last season as Rantanen scored a hat trick and provided an assist, helping the Stars secure their victory over the Avalanche.
- Despite being signed by Dallas, Rantanen's history with the Colorado Avalanche is significant, as he was one of their top 10 scorers during his 8-year tenure and played a crucial role in their Stanley Cup win in 2022.
- In an unexpected sports news, Rantanen managed to bag an eight-year, $96 million contract with the Dallas Stars in 2024, after being traded from the Carolina Hurricanes.
- With Rantanen's comeback potential, the Dallas Stars are pinning their hopes on the 2025 NHL playoffs, where he had a record-breaking performance by scoring four points in the third period of Game 7, helping the Stars eliminate the Avalanche and making sports headlines globally.
