Mikko Rantanen scored a goal on his former team to push the Stars to a Game 7 win in the first round of the playoffs. Photo: Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Dallas Stars are heading to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs after defeating the Colorado Avalanche with a hat trick from the Avs' former star.
State of play: The Avalanche traded Mikko Rantanen — who was drafted by the Avs and won the Stanley Cup with the team in 2022 — to the Carolina Hurricanes in January.
The Hurricanes sent Rantanen to the Stars in March in exchange for Logan Stankoven and several draft picks.
Stunning stat: Rantanen was involved in all four goals in Saturday night's win over the Avs — scoring three and assisting in another.
The latest: The Stars were seconds away from having home ice advantage in the Western Conference semifinals, but the Winnipeg Jets scored a goal forcing overtime last night.
Winnipeg ultimately beat the St. Louis Blues, 4-3, in the second overtime.
What's next: Winnipeg ended the regular season first in the central division, giving them home ice advantage for the second round.
The Stars will head to Canada for the first two games of the series, starting Wednesday.
Stars stars Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen are expected to return from injury in time for Round 2.
