Stars defeat Avalanche in Game 7, advance to second round
The Dallas Stars advance to the second round of the NHL playoffs, beating the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 in Game 7.
Mikko Rantanen assisted on Wyatt Johnston's tiebreaking power-play goal with 3:56 left before completing a third-period hat trick with an empty-netter as the Dallas Stars beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 in Game 7 on Saturday night to wrap up the first-round Western Conference playoff series.
Rantanen, who was in the playoffs with the Avalanche the past seven seasons and part of their 2022 Stanley Cup title, had his second four-point period in the series. He is only the second player in NHL history to have four points in the third period of a Game 7.
The Stars move on to the second round to face top-seeded Winnipeg. The Jets will have home ice to start the second round, Wednesday, May 7, at Canada Life Centre at 8:30 p.m. CT.
Colorado had taken a 2-0 lead when Nathan MacKinnon made a short snap shot only 31 seconds into the third period. It was the first goal he has scored in five Game 7s, but all of those are losses.
Traded twice in six weeks earlier this season, Rantanen scored five goals in the series against his former team.
Rantanen got Dallas' first goal with 12:11 left on a shot from above the middle of circles. He tied the game at 2 with 6:14 left went he skated behind the net and took a wraparound shot that ricocheted off the skate of Avs defenseman Samuel Girard. Rantanen then sealed the win with an empty-netter with 3 seconds remaining.
