Despite goals from Josh Manson in the second period and Nathan MacKinnon to open the third, the Avs conceded four unanswered goals in the final frame, falling 4-2 at American Airlines Center.

Mikko Rantanen made sure the Colorado Avalanche missed him in Game 7 of their first-round series against the Dallas Stars in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. Rantanen scored a third-period hat trick against his former team to lead the Stars to the second round with a 4-2 comeback win on Saturday night.

It wasn’t a handshake line at the end of this remarkable seven-game series for Mikko Rantanen. It was a hug line.