Mikko Rantanen’s postgame comments encapsulate the spirit of the Colorado Avalanche — a team filled with belief and fight, even in defeat
But belief alone doesn’t win playoff series. Execution, structure, and consistency do. That’s what separated Dallas in this contest.
The Stars were methodical, confident, and opportunistic. And now, they’re marching forward in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, while the Avalanche are left to reflect, reload, and return stronger.
One thing’s for sure: if these two teams meet again next season, fireworks are guaranteed.
The Avalanche-Stars series was one of the most compelling of the 2024 postseason. It featured high drama, personal narratives, offensive fireworks, and elite goaltending.
Game 7 will go down in history not just for Rantanen’s hat trick, but for the raw emotion that followed. It was a brutal but beautiful reminder of what playoff hockey is all about: passion, heartbreak, redemption, and legacy.
For Colorado, the journey ends with lessons learned and a window still open. For Dallas, the dream lives on—and it’s being powered by a player they once faced as a friend.
Also Read: Mikko Rantanen and the $14M AAV Debate: Could He Set a New NHL Contract Standard?
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Mikko Rantanen’s Revenge: Hat Trick Hero Against Former Team
The narrative couldn’t have been written more dramatically. Mikko Rantanen, once a beloved forward in Colorado, was traded in a surprising mid-season shuffle—first to the Carolina Hurricanes and then flipped to the Dallas Stars before the trade deadline.1
Saturday night, he returned to haunt the very team he once called home.
Rantanen was simply unstoppable in Game 7. Down 2-0 in the third period, he orchestrated an incredible comeback.
His first goal came five minutes into the final frame, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Less than two minutes later, he struck again, tying the game at 2-2 and silencing the Colorado crowd.
The exclamation point came in the final minute. With Colorado’s net empty in a desperate attempt to even the score, Rantanen seized the moment.
He broke away and slid the puck into the empty net, completing a hat trick and crushing the Avalanche’s hopes in one swoop.
An Emotional Reunion: Rantanen and His Former Teammates
Despite playing the role of the villain on the ice, Rantanen’s postgame interactions reminded fans that hockey is, at its core, a brotherhood.
In the traditional handshake line after the final horn, Rantanen embraced several of his former Avalanche teammates.
Tears were evident. There were long hugs and heartfelt exchanges. In the postgame press conference, Rantanen spoke candidly about the emotions of playing—and defeating—his former team.
“They’re my brothers. I still love every one of them,” he said. “Obviously we were enemies in the series on the ice, but they’re my dear friends off the ice. So it was emotional, and I love every one of them.”
For many watching, it was a poignant reminder of the human side of the sport—where rivalries and relationships collide on the playoff stage.
Fast Start for Colorado Fizzles
The Avalanche looked poised for victory early in the third period. Defenseman Josh Manson opened the scoring with a gritty short-handed goal that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Just moments later, superstar Nathan MacKinnon capitalized on a delayed penalty, sneaking one past Stars goalie Jake Oettinger to make it 2-0.
But Colorado’s momentum evaporated quickly. The team began to sit back, and the aggressive forecheck that had served them so well vanished.
Rantanen’s quick-fire goals shifted the momentum entirely, and the Avalanche found themselves scrambling to stay in the game.
Johnston’s Power Play Strike Turns the Tide
Once the Stars had tied the game, the Avalanche appeared rattled. Their discipline faltered, leading to a critical penalty midway through the third period.
Dallas, lethal on the man advantage all series long, made them pay.
Wyatt Johnston—one of Dallas’s rising young stars—ripped a one-timer past Colorado netminder Alexandar Georgiev at the 12:36 mark. The 3-2 lead felt monumental, as the Stars tightened defensively and denied the Avalanche any room to operate.
It was a textbook example of capitalizing on momentum and executing under pressure.
Mikko Rantanen’s Trade
A Defining Moment for the Season
The trade that sent Rantanen away from Colorado was controversial from the outset.2
At the time, the Avalanche were struggling with consistency and cap concerns. Management chose to shake things up, hoping that younger, cheaper depth would provide a better path forward.
Few could have predicted that the very player they shipped out would come back to end their season.
For Dallas, the addition of Rantanen proved a masterstroke. His chemistry with the Stars’ core players developed quickly, and his veteran presence gave Dallas another offensive weapon in their playoff arsenal.
For Colorado, it will go down as one of the most bittersweet storylines of the year.
Missed Opportunities and Special Teams Struggles
Beyond Rantanen’s heroics, Colorado will likely look back at Game 7 with frustration over missed chances.
The Avalanche failed to convert on multiple power plays throughout the game, including a critical man advantage late in the second period that could have extended their lead to 3-0.
On the flip side, Dallas’s power play was decisive. Johnston’s go-ahead goal was their third power-play marker of the series and emphasized the importance of special teams in tight playoff contests.
In a game of inches, Colorado’s failure to capitalize on their opportunities proved costly.
Mikko Rantanen: Leadership Core Faces Tough Questions
With another early playoff exit, questions will inevitably circle around the Avalanche’s leadership group and coaching staff.3
Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar remain among the league’s elite, but this is now the second consecutive year they’ve failed to return to the Stanley Cup Final after winning in 2022.
Head coach Jared Bednar, while respected, may face scrutiny for in-game decisions and his inability to halt Dallas’s surging momentum in the third period.
The front office, too, will have to evaluate the roster—especially in light of the Rantanen trade—and determine what changes must be made to get back to championship contention.
Bright Spots Amid the Disappointment
- Despite the devastating loss, there were positives for Colorado to build on. Josh Manson was a standout on both ends of the ice throughout the series, and rookie Jean-Luc Foudy showed flashes of promise in limited minutes.
- Alexandar Georgiev had a solid playoff run overall, making numerous key saves under pressure.
- And Bowen Byram, still just 23, logged heavy minutes and continued his evolution into a top-tier defenseman.
- These foundational pieces provide a reason for optimism heading into the offseason.
- As the Stars march forward, the Avalanche are left with an offseason full of difficult decisions.
- Will they re-sign aging veterans like Andrew Cogliano or look to infuse more youth into the lineup? Can they find reliable secondary scoring to support MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen’s replacement?
- Cap space will be a challenge, and the front office must be calculated in free agency and trade discussions. But if the past has shown anything, it’s that Colorado has the core talent to remain contenders.
- Whether they return stronger in 2025 will depend largely on the moves made in the next few months.
Also Read: Relationship Timeline Of Mikko Rantanen And His Girlfriend Susanna
Mikko Rantanen’s Message: “No Quit in This Team”
Following the loss, Mikko Rantanen addressed the media with heartfelt reflections on the game and the Avalanche’s effort.
While disappointed with the outcome, he emphasized the team’s resilience and refusal to back down.
“No words to describe, you know. The belief in the group, the whole team of ours, you know, there is no quit at any point,” Rantanen said.
His words carried the weight of a team that had battled adversity all season and throughout the series.
Rantanen praised the group’s ability to stay mentally strong, especially after giving up an early third-period goal that could have broken their spirit.
“They obviously they got a goal in the first shift of the third, but we just kept going,” he added. “There was a little chatter on the bench and we knew we got earn couple of bounces and we did, big win.”
Rantanen’s comments reflect not only leadership but also a hopeful outlook despite a crushing playoff exit.
Avalanche’s Road Ends in Gritty Battle
The Avalanche entered the series with high hopes, led by a talented core featuring MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Cale Makar. But the Stars managed to stifle their explosive play and frustrate their offensive schemes.
Colorado had its moments — flashes of the dynamic team that won the Stanley Cup in 2022 — but they were too few and far between.
Turnovers, inconsistent special teams, and Dallas’s physical play disrupted Colorado’s rhythm. And while the Avalanche put up a fight in Game 6, they couldn’t capitalize on enough chances to extend the series.
Their elimination may sting, but it also sets the stage for important offseason evaluations and the potential for roster adjustments.
Dallas Stars’ Depth Proves Crucial
What separated Dallas in this series was depth — up and down the lineup, players contributed in all three zones.
From veterans like Jamie Benn to rising stars like Wyatt Johnston, the Stars found offense and defensive reliability outside of their top line.
Their defensive corps, anchored by Miro Heiskanen, limited Colorado’s odd-man rushes and blocked countless shots. The Stars also won key battles along the boards, disrupted passing lanes, and maintained offensive pressure with all four lines.
This team showed they’re not reliant on a single superstar but rather a collective effort built on chemistry, discipline, and execution.
Mikko Rantanen: Stars Await Their Next Opponent
With this victory, Dallas advances to the next round and will face the winner of the Game 7 showdown between the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets.
The upcoming matchup promises to be a physical, fast-paced contest, regardless of the opponent.
The Stars will have the advantage of a few days’ rest and preparation, while their future opponents battle it out in a do-or-die situation. This rest could prove valuable as the playoffs grind on and injuries take a toll.
Dallas will look to carry their current momentum forward, especially with Oettinger’s form and their well-balanced roster firing on all cylinders.
What Went Wrong for Colorado?
Despite entering the postseason with a top-tier roster and a recent championship pedigree, the Avalanche couldn’t replicate the success of years past. Several factors contributed to their downfall:
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Injury Concerns: Key players like Gabriel Landeskog remained sidelined, affecting leadership and forward depth.
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Goaltending Instability: While Blackwood had his moments, the lack of consistent, elite-level goaltending was a glaring difference compared to Dallas.
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Special Teams Woes: Colorado’s power play lacked punch, and their penalty kill couldn’t contain Dallas in critical moments.
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Inability to Adapt: Dallas executed tactical adjustments throughout the series, while the Avalanche often stuck to predictable patterns that the Stars exploited.
These issues, combined with Dallas’s execution, spelled the end of Colorado’s playoff run.
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The Bigger Picture for the Avalanche
This playoff exit could serve as a turning point for the Avalanche. They still boast a strong core and an identity rooted in speed and skill, but some soul-searching may be necessary heading into the offseason.
Will they seek a new goaltender? Add depth scoring? Make defensive changes? General Manager Chris MacFarland will have key decisions to make in the months ahead.
For veterans like Rantanen and MacKinnon, the window for another Cup run remains open — but not forever. The team must regroup, reset, and return with a renewed focus in the fall.
Stars Gaining Confidence at the Right Time
Confidence is everything in the playoffs, and the Dallas Stars are full of it right now. Their Game 6 win wasn’t just a victory — it was a statement. They shut down one of the league’s most dangerous offenses and showed poise in pressure moments.
Their physical edge, depth, and goaltending form the foundation of a legitimate Cup contender. As they await the next series, the Stars are no longer just underdogs or dark horses. They’re a serious threat — and they know it.
Also Read: Nathan MacKinnon Credits Mikko Rantanen for Success: Career, Net Worth And Family Background
