NHL

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Fans Respond To Stars’ Mikko Rantanen Netting Hat Trick In Game 7 Win Over Avalanche

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Jeff Hawkins
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Jeff Hawkins Sports Editor

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

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Published04 May 2025

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nhl stars win game 7 vs aves (1)

The “Moose” was on the loose against his former teammates. 

Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen recorded a natural hat trick Friday night, leading the Dallas Stars to a 4-2 vicory over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 of their first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series.  

An ex-Avalanche star, Rantanen helped the Stars rally from a two-goal third-period deficit by scoring first at the 7:49 of the third period. He scored again to tie the game at 13:46. 

Following Wyatt Johnston’s eventual game-winner, Rantanen capped the comeback with an empty-net goal.  

“Really no words to describe the belief in the group, the whole team of ours,” Rantanen told ESPN. “There was no quit at any point.”

X (Twitter) users responded to the Stars taking the first step in their Stanley Cup quest and advancing to Round 2 … 

Round 1, check … 

 Warming up … 

 Colorado’s Josh Manson scored the Game 7 icebreaker while shorthanded midway through the second period … 

The third period didn’t start too well. Nathan MacKinnon scored 31 seconds into the frame, giving the Avalanche what appeared to be an insurmountable two-goal advantage … 

At the 47-minute mark, the Stars needed a goal and got it from Rantanen, sparking the comeback with 12:11 remaining in the third period … 

Rantanen’s game-tying marker came with a bit of puck luck with a bounce off a skate, but a gritty, behind-the-net effort fueled it… 

 Called Mr. Game 7, Johnston connected on what proved to be the series-winner from a tough angle … 

Final score: Stars 4, Avalanche 2 …