As many expected when the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs began, the Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche first-round series lasted the full seven games. The teams came into this series relatively evenly matched, with a few questions surrounding injured or inexperienced players on both sides. Many expected Colorado to eliminate Dallas. However, the Stars managed to prevail with an incredible third-period comeback on home ice to send the Avs home for the second-straight season.
Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche Series Ends with Historic Third Period in Game 7
After forcing Game 7 with a Game 6 win in Denver, Colorado on Thursday evening, the Avalanche returned to Dallas with momentum seemingly on its side. In contrast, as the famous saying goes, momentum rarely continues game-to-game. Dallas was still missing two huge parts of its team (forward Jason Robertson and defenceman Miro Heiskanen), while Colorado was nearly at full strength and appeared rejuvenated after evening the series.
Special teams once again played a crucial role in Game 7. There were plenty of penalties early, but neither side seemed to break through with the man advantage in the first two periods. However, Colorado defenceman Josh Manson scored a shorthanded second-period goal to give the Avs the early lead, while Dallas could not put the puck in the net. Nathan MacKinnon gave the Avs a 2-0 cushion early in the third, but they couldn’t close the game.
Mikko Rantanen With the Ultimate Revenge
Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger continued a phenomenal series with some key saves when it seemed like Colorado needed just one goal to seal the deal. That allowed the Stars to find their offence, as former Colorado forward Mikko Rantanen became the first player in NHL history to record a hat trick in the third period of a Game 7. And he didn’t notch his first until just over 12 minutes remaining. Furthermore, he now leads the NHL with 12 playoff points, with 11 coming in the last three dominating games.
Mikko Rantanen just rewrote the history books
He’s now the first NHL player ever to:
Record a third‑period hat trick in a Game 7
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 4, 2025
Rantanen’s first goal felt like the first real momentum-shifting goal of the series, and Dallas rode that to victory. Rantanen had four points in the frame, assisting on Wyatt Johnston‘s game-winning tally. Johnston has now scored in every Game 7 that he has played and is the only NHL player to score multiple game-winning goals in Game 7s before the age of 22.
What The Stars and Avalanche Learned from this Series
The Dallas Stars proved they have the depth to play with anyone in this league and contend for the Stanley Cup. Both coaches said after the game that they believe this was Colorado’s best team since its 2022 Stanley Cup run, and beating a team of that quality without two of your best players is a huge accomplishment. We’ll see how things play out with the next series, but as Pete DeBoer told the media on Saturday night, “I believe there’s something special going on here.”
Dallas’ veterans also stepped up. After an abysmal showing in a Game 4 shutout loss, DeBoer challenged the veterans and leaders on his team to be better. The result? A 6-2 home win in which the Stars’ top-two lines and top defence pairing accounted for all six goals and other veterans collected assists. While they lost the next game, it seemed like the Stars had turned a page with that performance.
Meanwhile, Colorado needs to relearn how to close games. Game 5 was the only game in this series where the Avs did not score the first goal, yet they’re going home after seven games because of coughing up those leads. Special teams were a crucial part of that. While Colorado converted some shorthanded chances, its usually potent power play scored just three times in the series (13.6%). Dallas scored seven power-play goals, two of which came in the series finale. By contrast, Colorado was 0-for-3 with the man advantage on Saturday.
What’s Next?
St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets Game 7 Without One Jet Star
The Stars will play the winner of Sunday’s Game 7 between the Winnipeg Jets and the St. Louis Blues in the next round. Dallas did not fare well against Winnipeg in the regular season but swept St. Louis. The Stars will also lose the home-ice advantage, which DeBoer credited for much of his 9-0 record in Game 7s, if they end up facing the Jets.
Main Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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