Mikko Rantanen's Hat Trick Leads Stars Past Avalanche 4-2 in Game 7

Mikko Rantanen delivered a historic performance for the Dallas Stars in Game 7 against the Colorado Avalanche, scoring a third-period hat trick to help his team overcome a 2-0 deficit and win 4-2, advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Rantanen, who had been traded from Colorado earlier in the season, tallied five goals and seven assists in the series, with 11 of those points coming in the final three games. Stars coach Pete DeBoer credited Rantanen's motivation against his former team as a driving force behind his dominant play. Rantanen became only the second player in NHL history to record four points in the third period of a Game 7, and the first to score all three goals for a Game 7 hat trick in the final frame. The emotional victory was particularly poignant given Rantanen's recent departure from Colorado and his significant impact on his new team. The Stars will now look ahead to the next round, bolstered by Rantanen's leadership and offensive surge.