Former Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen led the Dallas Stars to a 4-3 series win in the first round of the 2025 NHL playoffs. The Finnish winger, who signed a $96 million deal with the Stars after joining them in March just before the trade deadline, scored a hat trick in Game 7 to seal the series.
Analysts and Stars management praised the veteran forward for his clutch play.
Stars HC Pete DeBoer on Mikko Rantanen’s Performance
Speaking to reporters after the Saturday, May 3 game, Stars head coach Pete DeBoer praised Rantanen.
“Let’s be honest, he (Rantanen) took over the series,” DeBoer said. “The last three, four games, he just decided that we were not going to go home, and we were not going to lose. I think it started then. What you witnessed there was special. This is the best league in the world against one of the top five teams in the world. What he did there down the stretch was special.”
The Stars were 2-0 down in the third period of Game 7 when Rantanen stepped up and scored three goals in quick succession. He also assisted Dallas forward Wyatt Johnston’s goal with the game tied at 2-2, which saw the Stars take the lead for the first time on the night.
“I expected a seven-game series even before Game 1,” Rantanen said via NHL.com. “Ups and downs in the series, a couple of games we didn’t play well at all. Even tonight, a little bit flat first two periods, gave up a goal on our power play, and they score first shift of the third, kind of takes the air out of the building.
The Avalanche traded Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 24, only to see him make a deadline-day switch to Colorado’s Central Division rivals on March 7. Rantanen had been negotiating with the Avalanche over a new deal since the start of the season, but the two sides reportedly could not agree on terms.
“Obviously, things happened not the way I expected to happen [with Colorado], but it’s business, like I’ve said many times,” Rantanen said. “I don’t know. Revenge? I’m just happy to win [against] another team in the playoffs. It doesn’t matter who it is. So, I’m just happy to be on the winning side and move on here.”
In the second round, the Stars will now face the series winner between the St Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets. The two teams will play Game 7 of their series on Sunday.
