DALLAS - The NHL script writers put together one heck of a Game 7 on Saturday. Unfortunately, it ended about as poorly as you could possibly imagine for the Colorado Avalanche.
Colorado was in total control of the game with about 13 minutes left in the third period, leading 2-0 and giving the Dallas Stars next to nothing offensively.
That's when Mikko Rantanen took over.
Mikko Rantanen's third-period hat trick sinks Avalanche in Game 7 | 3 takeaways
The former Avalanche star, who picked up seven points in the previous two games, put the Dallas Stars on his back. He scored at 7 minutes and 49 seconds of the third to get the American Airlines Center crowd back into it and tied it up with a solo effort a few minutes later. Colorado couldn't find their footing again and a Jack Drury penalty with under four minutes left in the third proved to be enormous, as Wyatt Johnston put Dallas ahead 3-2.
Colorado failed to score with its net empty and Rantanen finished off the hat trick in the Avs' 4-2 loss, becoming the first player in NHL history to score a third period hat trick in a Game 7.
A wild turn of events that the Avalanche locker room was still struggling to comprehend afterwards.
"It’s pretty shocking," Nathan MacKinnon said. "Felt like we were in total control and then Mikko, credit to him, he made some amazing plays. He was a difference maker, and he took over. I don’t know. I’m in shock to be honest with you. Felt like we were in complete control of the game the whole time and just lost it."
In a series where the margin of error was basically non-existent, it came down to one crucial part of the game.
Special teams.
Colorado's power play, which was the best in the NHL after the Rantanen trade, was poor for most of the series, going just 3-for-22. The timing of some of those powerplay failures is what will really sting, as the Avalanche had late opportunities in Games 2 and 3 before losing in overtime. When the Stars made it 2-1, the Avalanche were given a man advantage. That went nowhere, ending with a Cale Makar penalty that Rantanen eventually scored on.
The ineffective power play was a huge reason why the season is now done for the Avalanche.
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"Definitely was a big part of the series just not being able to capitalize at key moments on the power play," Makar said.
"It's obviously a big, big swing and turning point in the series," coach Jared Bednar said.
A swing in the direction of the Stars. The Avalanche now enter the offseason with a ton of questions. Dallas is a great team, but that doesn't make this loss sting any less.
"This is the best we've had since (winning the Cup)," Bednar said.
Just not good enough, though.
Stars 4, Avalanche 2
What happened: The Avalanche collapsed, giving up four unanswered goals in the third to the Stars.
What went right: For 45 minutes, the Avalanche played about as perfect a Game 7 as you could imagine. They gave the Stars nothing to work with and took the crowd completely out of it. Unfortunately, 45 minutes isn't enough for a team that good.
What went wrong: There were questionable calls all series long on both sides, but Colorado's powerplay did nothing to actually take advantage of Dallas' mistakes. Jamie Benn took a four-minute high-sticking penalty in the first and the Avalanche failed to take advantage of it. That was a familiar theme throughout the series.
Avalanche goal scorers: Manson (2), MacKinnon (6)
Stars goal scorers: Rantanen (3,4,5), Johnston (3)
Between the pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood finished with 15 saves on 18 shots.
