The Colorado Avalanche’s season ended Saturday night with a 4-2 Game 7 loss to the Dallas Stars, leaving star center Nathan MacKinnon in disbelief.
“It’s pretty shocking,” MacKinnon said after the game, per The Denver Gazette’s Evan Rawal. “Felt like we were in total control, then Mikko… credit to him, he made some amazing plays. He was the difference-maker, took over. Yeah, I don’t know. I’m in shock, to be honest.”
Former Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen scored a hat trick and added an assist on Wyatt Johnston’s game-winner to complete Dallas’ comeback.
“They were missing their best D (in Miro Heiskanen) and maybe their best forward (in Jason Robertson),” MacKinnon added, per DNVR. “We still couldn’t beat them. Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t know what we’re gonna do.”
The Avalanche took a 2-0 lead when MacKinnon scored in the first minute of the third period before Rantanen’s offensive explosion.
Colorado controlled 58.6% of shot attempts, 58.3% of expected goals, and 59.3% of high-danger chances at five-on-five during the series, according to Natural Stat Trick.
The power play struggled throughout the series, going just 3-for-22 and failing to convert on three opportunities in Game 7.
“It’s tough because you put your heart and soul into the whole year, the series, all of it,” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said. “You’re in a good position, and then it slips away on you. So it’s tough because I know how hard these guys worked and how bad they wanted it. That’s all you can really think of at this point.”
Bednar believes in his team’s quality despite the disappointing result.
“This is a good team. It’s a really good team. In 2021, we were good; we got bounced out (in the second round). In 2022, we, obviously, were really good. This is the best team we’ve had since, though.”
The Avalanche have won just one playoff series since their 2022 Stanley Cup championship. Dallas also eliminated Colorado in last year’s second round in six games.
This loss extends the Avalanche’s Game 7 losing streak to seven games – the longest in NHL history. Their last Game 7 victory came in 2002.
Captain Gabriel Landeskog returned in Game 3 after missing nearly three years due to injury. The 31-year-old forward recorded one goal and four points in five games.
“It’s pretty early on, so it’s hard to put into words other than it sucks,” Landeskog said after Saturday’s defeat. “It really sucks. Just wasn’t ready to stop playing, to be honest.
“Love this group, love the team we have, love the fight we keep showing time and time again. Just wasn’t our night tonight, and therefore we’re done.”
