The Colorado Avalanche held a 2-0 lead early in the third period of Game 7 on Saturday before conceding four unanswered goals to the Dallas Stars and ending their postseason run in a 4-2 loss.
Mikko Rantanen, a former Avalanche forward traded earlier this season, scored three times in the final frame to send Dallas into the second round and eliminate his former team.
In doing so, Rantanen became the first player in NHL history to score a hat trick in the third period of a Game 7, as well as the first ever to have a 4-point period in back-to-back games.
Gabriel Landeskog had a blunt take on Rantanen’s feat when asked about his historic performance following the Avs’ elimination from the playoffs.
🗣️Gabe Landeskog
“It just wasn’t our night tonight, and therefore we’re done.”
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“I couldn’t care less who scored for them,” Landeskog said. “I really couldn’t.
”I’ve told you, Mikko’s one of my best friends, and I love him, but I couldn’t care whether he scored or somebody else.”
Rantanen, who won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2022, was traded in January after contract talks with the Avalanche broke down. He was first moved to Carolina, then flipped to Dallas, where he signed an eight-year, $96 million deal.
Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) before a game against the Dallas Stars at Ball Arena.Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Landeskog called the loss tough and pointed to a turning point midway through the period.
“Thought we had a great start to the (third) period, even when they scored one,“ Landeskog said. “I thought we came back down and created some good looks and stayed on the gas, earned a power play, Cale [Makar] breaks his stick on a one-timer right from the slot they go down, all of a sudden, they get a power play out of it. So, all of a sudden, it’s a tie.
“The margin for error in the playoffs is really small. I mean that’s how small it is so. I think we still pushed back and it’s a tied hockey game and then they get a power play again.”
Dallas will face either the Winnipeg Jets or the St. Louis Blues in the second round, with Game 7 between both franchises taking place on Sunday.
Related: Nathan MacKinnon’s ‘Shocking’ Message After Stars Eliminate Avalanche
Related: Stars’ Mikko Rantanen Reveals Truth Behind Avalanche Exit
