In one of the most dramatic and emotionally charged nights of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Mikko Rantanen orchestrated a stunning third-period comeback to lead the Dallas Stars to a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7. With a breathtaking hat trick — all scored in the final period — Rantanen not only eliminated his former team but also delivered one of the most unforgettable revenge stories in recent hockey history.
Trailing 2-0 at the start of the third period, the Stars looked to be on the brink of elimination. The Avalanche, powered by early goals from Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin, had controlled much of the game’s tempo and appeared poised to punch their ticket to the Western Conference Final. But in the high-pressure environment of a Game 7, momentum can shift in the blink of an eye — and Mikko Rantanen made sure it did.
The Finnish winger, who spent nearly a decade with the Avalanche before being traded to Dallas in a blockbuster deal, seemed to tap into a well of personal motivation. His first goal came less than three minutes into the third period — a power-play snipe that cut the deficit in half and ignited the crowd at American Airlines Center. The second came off a rebound that he buried past Avalanche netminder Alexandar Georgiev to tie the game midway through the period. The third, and most electrifying, came with just under four minutes remaining: a dazzling wrist shot from the slot that screamed past Georgiev and sent the arena into absolute chaos.
Rantanen raised his arms, eyes fixed on the Avalanche bench — a silent statement from a man who had been underestimated and let go.
“I tried to stay focused, but of course, there were a lot of emotions tonight,” Rantanen said in a postgame interview. “Colorado was my home. I gave everything to that organization. But hockey is a business, and sometimes it takes moments like these to remind people what you’re capable of.”
The win not only marked a monumental individual achievement for Rantanen — the first player in NHL history to record a natural hat trick in the third period of a Game 7 — but also continued a perfect coaching streak for Dallas bench boss Pete DeBoer. DeBoer improved his career Game 7 record to an unprecedented 9-0, solidifying his reputation as one of the best tacticians under pressure.
“This team never gave up,” said DeBoer. “We were down, we were missing key guys, and it didn’t matter. Everyone stepped up, but what Mikko did tonight — that’s rare. That’s what champions are made of.”
The Stars’ resilience was even more impressive given the absence of defensive anchor Miro Heiskanen and forward Roope Hintz, both out due to injuries. Players like Wyatt Johnston, Jason Robertson, and Jamie Benn provided critical support, ensuring the Stars held the line defensively after taking the lead.
For the Colorado Avalanche, the loss stings deeply. The 2022 Stanley Cup champions entered the series with high expectations and undeniable offensive firepower. Yet they were ultimately undone by defensive lapses and an inability to respond when the Stars raised their intensity. Despite stellar performances throughout the postseason from their core players, they fell short at the most crucial juncture.
“This is a tough one,” Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog admitted. “We gave it everything we had, but we let that third period get away from us. Credit to Dallas. They wanted it more tonight.”
With the victory, the Stars now move on to the Western Conference Final, where they’ll face a red-hot opponent (yet to be decided at press time), with momentum and morale on their side. But for now, the spotlight belongs to Mikko Rantanen — the man who turned heartbreak into heroism and delivered a Game 7 for the ages.
From scorned trade piece to playoff legend, Rantanen’s redemption arc isn’t just about goals — it’s about grit, grace under fire, and a reminder that in hockey, as in life, revenge can be the sweetest victory of all.
