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10 Observations: Avalanche Sent a Message in Game 1 Rout of Stars (+)
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Mikko Rantanen was stunned when he was traded away from the Avalanche on Jan. 24. And 99 days later, the superstar forward stunned the Avs with a masterful third-period performance to end Colorado’s season.
Rantanen scored an empty-net goal to finish the hat trick while adding an assist on the eventual game-winning goal to lead the Dallas Stars to a 4-2 Game 7 victory. The Avs led 2-0 with 12:11 remaining before the collapse began. The game winner was scored with Jack Drury in the penalty box — one of the two pieces Colorado got for Rantanen when they sent him to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Now, Colorado heads into the offseason with far more questions than answers while watching the superstar they traded advance to the second round after getting the last laugh.
Still, Rantanen wouldn’t commit that getting revenge was top of mind. Even after scoring a hat trick and recording four points in the last 12 minutes. Even after leading the series with 12 points. Even after getting 11 points in the last three games, and was everything the Stars wanted when they traded for him.
It was another reminder of just how much respect he has for his teammates. And how badly he wanted to stay.
“It’s only a couple of months since I was still with [Colorado] and chasing a playoff spot,” Rantanen said after the game. “Now, all of a sudden, a couple months later, playing against them in a Game 7.”
Colorado’s goals came from Josh Manson and Nathan MacKinnon. The second tally came early in the third period to make it 2-0. It felt like the Avs were going to find a way to win a Game 7 for the first time in the MacKinnon era. It felt like they had what it takes.
But Rantanen had other thoughts.
Rantanen’s first goal was a wrister from the slot. The Avs gave him room to walk in, and he wired it past Mackenzie Blackwood to bring the Stars within a goal.
Three minutes later, Dallas forward Matt Duchene was called for tripping, sending the Avs on the power play with a chance to restore their two-goal lead.
Instead, Makar broke his stick off a shot from the point and had to track back and defend without one. He ended up getting called for tripping on the desperation play, which led to 47 seconds of 4-on-4 before a Dallas power play. Colorado finished 0-for-3 on the man advantage.
On that Stars power play, Rantanen swung around the net and completed the wrap-around with a puck that caromed in off of Samuel Girard. Dallas had not completed a two-goal comeback in the third period all season.
But it was a brand new game.
Two minutes later, Drury was called for holding, a penalty that simply can’t happen at that point in the game. He argued his case all the way to the box. It was the game changer. The one that sank the Avs.
Wyatt Johnston scored 17 seconds later to give Dallas its first lead of the game with just 3:56 remaining. Both Duchene and Rantanen assisted on the goal.
Colorado pulled its goalie to attempt to tie it up, but to no avail. Rantanen added an empty-net goal in the dying seconds to complete the hat trick and send his former team packing.
What Makes Game 7 Preparation Different For The Avs?
Disgusted.
Tough loss. Lack of special team play is the reason COL goes home early. Changes coming.
Nothing else to say but a the worst collapse in Avs franchise history. But this script was written when we found ways to choke away games 2 and 3 as well against a team missing two great players and Mikko looking he wasn’t sure which team he was playing for.
Jeremy, I toast to you tonight. You look like a fucking genius tonight.
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