DALLAS – Colorado had this game won up 2-0 in the closing stages of the third period. They looked like they were en route to slay the dragon.

But instead, trends continue. The Dallas Stars put up four in the third period behind a Mikko Rantanen hat-trick. Similar to how the Avalanche were eliminated in 2020, it is sheer heartbreak.

First Period

Parker Kelly found himself in the box early for the Avs for a questionable holding penalty to call in Game Seven. Dallas had looks, but Colorado did enough to hold them off.

The Avalanche had a great opportunity of their own when Jamie Benn cross-checked Valeri Nichushkin in the face. The double-minor gave his team some great chances as the clock wound down. But, they’d come up empty-handed.

Aside from the penalties, neither team had many looks at the net. They played a solid defensive game with little room on the ice. For only the third time in this series, the period was scoreless.

Second Period

Colorado was under pressure early on. Dallas had its best chance of the game when Mikael Granlund was left all alone in front. But Mackenzie Blackwood was able to sprawl out and push the pad away with the puck. It was the first of several chances.

Dallas had stepped it up while the Avs were just a half-step off. It looked like it would continue when Sam Malinski took an interference penalty.

However, Logan O’Connor said otherwise. He forced a turnover at the blue line, leading a rush up ice. He was able to find a streaking Josh Manson in the slot. Manson’s shot just snuck through Oettinger and trickled in for a crucial shorthanded goal.

From there, the Avalanche had the upper hand. They left the Stars without a shot on net for nearly 10 minutes. Plus, the visitors had another great look when Oettinger couldn’t find the puck in front of him. They poked away at it with no success, leading to a scrum. Nonetheless, Colorado was 20 minutes away from moving on.

Third Period

Nathan MacKinnon tacked on an insurance goal, which was huge at the time. Just 31 seconds in on a delayed call, he made it 2-0.

But then Dallas roared back with authority. After Thomas Harley was hurt in a collision with Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen took over. He forced Colorado’s defense back and had an open opportunity in the slot to get one back.

Harley almost followed suit in front but Blackwood fought it off. Penalties followed suit when Matt Duchene tripped Martin Necas. Cale Makar then had his stick snap in half and had to trip a man to stop the chance. Necas was also hurt on the play, but returned to the action.

Rantanen took it to another level. On a wraparound opportunity, he just nicked the puck off Samuel Girard’s skate to go in and tie it up at two.

A controversial and huge penalty call on Jack Drury ended up being a major difference late in the game. Dallas made quick work of it down low, finished off by Wyatt Johnston.


Colorado was behind the eight-ball, but pushing for an unlikely equalizer with the net empty. They had opportunities, and Rantanen finished off his hat-trick with the late empty-netter. Just like Joel Kiviranta in 2020, a Finnish hat-trick finished off the Avalanche’s season.

Observations from the Mountaintop

Absolutely unacceptable. That’s about it. More will come in a future piece breaking down what exactly went wrong, because it simply just isn’t the right time or mindset for it.

Next Up

Colorado has a lot of questions ahead now in what will be a tumultuous offseason. Rookie Development is the next team event in July, with Rookie Camp and Training Camp in September. That will lead into preseason hockey in early October before the start of the regular season, when the games count again.