Overview

• Mikko Rantanen played his first game against the Colorado Avalanche after being traded twice this season, first to the Carolina Hurricanes and then to the Dallas Stars.
• The Avalanche defeated the Stars 4-3 in overtime, with Cale Makar scoring the winning goal just 34 seconds into the extra period.
• Rantanen, a former fan favorite in Colorado, received a mix of cheers and boos from the Ball Arena crowd, reflecting his emotional return to his longtime home team’s arena.
• Rantanen expressed his disappointment about leaving Colorado, stating he never wanted to be traded and had hoped to extend his contract with the Avalanche.
• The win tightened the Central Division race, with the Avalanche now just two points behind the Stars as the playoffs approach.