From the moment the first-round matchup between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche became official, all eyes were on Mikko Rantanen. Rantanen, 28, spent nearly 10 years with the Avalanche and won a Stanley Cup in 2022 before a stunning trade to the Carolina Hurricanes in January.

Despite splitting the first four games of their first-round playoff series with the Colorado Avalanche, the Dallas Stars held a

His first game back also ended with Mikko Rantanen’s first huge moment in a Dallas Stars uniform. Rantanen was held without a point in this Stanley Cup Playoffs opening-round showdown through the first two games and deep into Game 3, but he was the engine behind the Stars’ winning goal to grab a 2-1 series lead against the Colorado Avalanche.