Mikko Rantanen Exhilarates NHL Fans as Stars Eliminate MacKinnon, Avalanche in Game 7

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.

He is the first player in NHL history to score a hat trick in the third period of a Game 7, according to ESPN Stats and Info.

Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche were leading 2-0 with 12 minutes remaining when Rantanen took over.

Rantanen scored twice, then set up Wyatt Johnston's go-ahead power play goal before icing the game with his hat-trick empty netter.

Rantanen will finish his first playoff series as a Star with five goals and seven assists in seven games. He recorded 11 of those 12 points in Games 5 through 7.

The Avs traded Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes in January amid stalled contract negotiations. The Canes ultimately flipped Rantanen to the Stars for a package that included two conditional first-round picks.

Fans are now convinced that deal, as well as the eight-year, $96 million extension that followed, were worth it to bring Rantanen to Dallas.

The Stars will advance despite missing a key forward in Jason Robertson and their top defenseman in Miro Heiskanen.

It was an emotional handshake line for Rantanen, who told ESPN's Emily Kaplan after the game he still sees his former Avalanche teammates as "brothers."

The Avalanche will now head home following their second first-round exit in three seasons, while the Stars prepare for a second-round matchup with either the St. Louis Blues or Winnipeg Jets.

Which team earns the final spot in the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs will be decided on Sunday when the puck drops in Winnipeg at 7 p.m. ET.