Mikko Rantanen’s revenge against the Colorado Avalanche was nothing short of dramatic. The Dallas Stars right winger, who had spent parts of 10 seasons with Colorado, played the pivotal role in eliminating his former team from the Stanley Cup playoffs. With the Avalanche leading 2-0 early in the third period of Game 7, Rantanen ensured that it was Colorado’s season that would come to an end.
The Turning Point
Rantanen, who was drafted 10th overall by Colorado in 2015, had a long and successful run with the Avalanche, including winning a Stanley Cup in 2022 and recording two 100-point seasons. However, by January, as the 2024-2025 NHL season rolled into its later months, Rantanen found himself without a contract. The Avalanche traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team deal with the Chicago Blackhawks.
In a mid-March interview, Rantanen revealed that he never wanted to leave Colorado, and he did not sign a new contract with Carolina. By the trade deadline, Rantanen found himself dealt once again—this time to the Dallas Stars, where he signed an eight-year deal with a $12-million cap hit.
Fast forward to April, and Rantanen’s new team, the Stars, faced his former team, the Avalanche, in a high-stakes first-round series. Colorado struck first in Game 1, but the Stars bounced back with two consecutive wins. The series became a back-and-forth affair with Colorado tying the series after Game 3 and again after Game 5. But Game 7 was when Rantanen truly made his mark.
Rantanen’s Heroic Performance
As time ticked down in the third period of Game 7 with less than 13 minutes remaining, the Stars were still scoreless. Rantanen stepped up when his team needed him the most. He walked into the offensive zone, took a snapshot, and fired it past Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, cutting Colorado’s lead to one.
Just when it seemed like Colorado might maintain their advantage, Rantanen made another huge play. Following a penalty for tripping on Matt Duchene, who had tripped Martin Necas (a player originally part of the Rantanen trade deal), Rantanen found himself in the perfect position. The 4-on-4 play turned into a Stars power play after Cale Makar was also penalized for tripping.
Rantanen didn’t hesitate—he skated around the net, took a hard hit from Blackwood, and still managed to score on a wraparound. Falling to the ice, Rantanen tied the game, sparking the Dallas crowd and rejuvenating the Stars’ momentum.
Postgame Comments
After the dramatic comeback, Rantanen spoke with ESPN’s Emily Kaplan on the bench, expressing the team’s resilience. “The belief in the group, the whole team of ours, there was no quitting at any point,” he said, acknowledging the collective effort that led to their victory.
Rantanen had already made a big impact throughout the series, recording two goals and eight points in six games, including a three-point effort in Game 5 and a four-point performance in Game 6. But his performance in Game 7 was the final blow, eliminating the Avalanche and proving that he was the catalyst for the Stars’ victory.
The Stars Move On
With Rantanen’s crucial goals and his leadership, the Dallas Stars were able to tie the game, and ultimately take control, moving on to the next round of the playoffs. For Rantanen, facing the team he once saw his future with and being able to eliminate them in such dramatic fashion will certainly be a moment he’ll never forget.
Mikko Rantanen’s unforgettable Game 7 performance helped the Dallas Stars overcome the Colorado Avalanche in a dramatic showdown that saw the Stars storm back from a 2-0 deficit in the third period. After Rantanen’s two crucial goals tied the game, he capped off the comeback in the final moments of the game with a hat trick that made NHL history.
A Penalty Opens the Door
With the game on the line, and overtime looming for the third time in the series, the Avalanche’s Jack Drury, who was also traded from Carolina alongside Rantanen, took a costly holding penalty. This sent the Stars back to the power play, giving them a golden opportunity to seize control of the game.
Rantanen’s Assist Sets Up Johnston for the Lead
With four minutes left in the third period, Rantanen found Matt Duchene in the bumper position beside Colorado’s netminder, Mackenzie Blackwood. Duchene quickly passed the puck across the ice to Wyatt Johnston, who finished off a perfect tic-tac-toe play, beating Blackwood and giving Dallas a 3-2 lead. Rantanen was credited with the secondary assist, setting the stage for what would come next.
Rantanen Seals the Deal with Historic Hat Trick
As Colorado pulled their goalie in a last-ditch effort to tie the game, Rantanen sealed his hat trick in the final seconds of the game. After receiving the puck, Rantanen fired into the empty net to secure the victory, marking the first-ever hat trick in a Game 7 in NHL history during the third period.
Rantanen’s performance not only helped the Stars complete an incredible comeback but also handed Colorado their eighth straight Game 7 loss in the playoffs. What seemed like a dire situation for Dallas had quickly turned into a victory for the ages, as Rantanen played a key role in eliminating his former team, the Avalanche.
An Emotional Farewell
After the Stars celebrated their victory, Rantanen shared an emotional moment with the Avalanche players. Despite the fierce rivalry on the ice, Rantanen expressed his love and admiration for his former teammates.
“They’re my brothers, you know?” Rantanen said. “I still love every one of them. Obviously, we were enemies in the series on the ice, but they’re my dear friends off the ice.”
Looking Ahead
With the victory, the Dallas Stars move on to the next round of the playoffs, now awaiting the winner of the Game 7 showdown between the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues. Rantanen’s leadership and stunning performance will certainly be remembered as a defining moment of this series, making him one of the standout players in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.
