Rantanen has hat trick as Stars rally past Avalanche 4-2 in Game 7 to advance to 2nd round

DALLAS AP Mikko Rantanen assisted on Wyatt Johnston s tiebreaking power-play goal with left before completing a third-period hat trick with an empty-netter as the Dallas Stars beat the Colorado Avalanche - in Meeting on Saturday night to wrap up the first-round Western Conference playoff series Rantanen who was in the playoffs with Avalanche the past seven seasons and part of their Stanley Cup title had his second four-point period in the series He is only the second participant in NHL history to have four points in the third period of a Encounter The Stars move on to the second round to face top-seeded Winnipeg or St Louis who play their own Competition on Sunday night The Jets would have home ice if they advance while Dallas would start at home if facing the Blues Colorado had taken a - lead when Nathan MacKinnon made a short snap shot only seconds into the third period It was the first goal he has scored in five Tournament s but all of those are losses Traded twice in a six-week period earlier this season Rantanen scored five goals in the series against his former crew Rantanen got Dallas first goal with left on a shot from above the middle of circles He tied the encounter at with left went he skated behind the net and took a wraparound shot that ricocheted off the skate of Avs defenseman Samuel Girard Rantanen then sealed the win with an empty-netter with seconds remaining AP NHL playoffs https apnews com hub stanley-cup and https apnews com hub nhl Source