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Stanley Cup Playoffs: Mikko Rantanen's hat trick leads the Stars past the Avs in Game 7

Mikko Rantanen (#96) skating by Avalanche defenders during Game 7 (2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs)
Mikko Rantanen (#96) skating by Avalanche defenders during Game 7 (2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs)Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images/AFP
Mikko Rantanen's third period hat trick helped the Dallas Stars to a Game 7 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Staurday to advance to the next round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Going down 2-0 in the third period didn't stop the Stars from an incredible comeback after scoring four straight goals to win Game 7 by a score of 4-2.

Check out the full breakdown of the game below!

1st Period

A very uneventful first period saw no goals on a combined nine shots between both teams. 

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn was assessed a double-minor penalty but the Avalanche failed to capitalise on the man advantage.

The Stars weren't innocent in the lack of scoring during a power play after Colorado's Parker Kelly was called for a minor holding penalty just two minutes into the game.

Stars finished the period winning just over 66 percent of the face-offs while outhitting the Avs 14-10. 

2nd Period

After a goal-frenzy in Game 6, this time around continued to prove the opposite through most of the second period - until Josh Manson scored a short-handed goal for the Avalanche after 10 minutes into the period. 

Both teams had 24 shots on goal combined through the first two periods. For comparison, both teams had a total of 54 shots on goal through the first two periods in Game 6. 

3rd Period

However, scoring woes in the game ceased to exist after Nathan MacKinnon wasted no time at all in putting the Avalanche up 2-0 just 31 seconds into the third period. 

But Dallas was on a comeback. 

Former Avs player Mikko Rantanen finally got things started for the Stars after scoring a laser off the upper pipe to bring the Stars within one with 12:11 left in the game - sending Stars fans into a frenzy. 

But Rantanen didn't stop there - scoring yet another goal for the Stars to tie it all up after a wrap-around shot that ricocheted off of Samuel Girard's skate into his own net during a Dallas power play. 

And another power play shortly after the goal is just what the Stars were granted after Colorado's Jack Drury was given a two-minute minor penalty for holding with under five minutes to go. 

Dallas made quick work of the opportunity to score and take the lead thanks to a goal from Wyatt Johnston just seconds into the power play. 

The Avs went with an empty-net with two minutes left in the game and who else but to score the empty-net goal right before time expires than Rantanen to complete the hat-trick - sending Dallas into the second round. 

The Stars will face either the Winnipeg Jets or St. Louis Blues following their Game 7 on Sunday, May 4th.