Overview

• Mikko Rantanen became the first NHL player to score a third-period hat trick in a Game 7, finishing with four points to lead Dallas to victory over his former team, Colorado.
• The Stars erased a 2-0 third-period deficit, securing the series-clinching win with Wyatt Johnston’s late power-play goal and Rantanen’s empty-netter.
• Colorado’s special teams struggled throughout the series, with a power-play conversion rate of just 13.6% and multiple missed opportunities in key moments.
• Dallas played the series without injured stars Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson, both of whom are expected to return in the second round, bolstering their playoff prospects.
• The Avalanche face mounting questions about coach Jared Bednar’s future, with analysts suggesting University of Denver coach David Carle as a potential replacement.