The Dallas Stars surged past the Colorado Avalanche with a dominant third-period performance Saturday night, clinching a 4-2 victory in Game 7 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series.
Trailing 2-0 after the first period, Dallas mounted a resilient comeback at American Airlines Center, outscoring Colorado 4-0 in the final 20 minutes.
The win secured the series for the Stars, who now advance to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Colorado opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal by defenseman Josh Manson, followed by a delayed penalty goal from Nathan MacKinnon to double the lead. Dallas responded with urgency in the third, capitalizing on offensive momentum and disciplined puck control.
Mikko Rantanen led the Stars’ comeback with a third-period hat trick, becoming a key difference-maker in the high-stakes matchup. His first two goals tied the game, and he sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final seconds. Wyatt Johnston added a power-play goal midway through the period to put Dallas ahead for good.
Goaltender Jake Oettinger made 25 saves, standing tall in net as the Avalanche pressed for a late equalizer. His performance anchored a defense that neutralized Colorado’s top lines in the third period.
The victory also extended head coach Pete DeBoer’s undefeated streak in Game 7s, as Dallas improved to 4-3 in the series. The Stars now await the winner of the Winnipeg Jets–St. Louis Blues series to determine their second-round opponent.
Dallas will carry momentum into the next round with renewed confidence after overcoming adversity and delivering under pressure. Game 7 served as a statement of resilience, depth, and execution, pushing the Stars one step closer to their championship aspirations.