* Another thrilling Game 7 instalment between the Stars and Avalanche concluded with Mikko Rantanen scoring a third-period hat trick and four-point period against his former team to help Dallas complete the fourth multi-goal, third-period comeback win in a Game 7 in NHL history.
* Wyatt Johnston added to his Game 7 resume by scoring the 11th-latest go-ahead goal and the eighth-latest game winner in a Game 7 in NHL history.
* Winner-take-all weekend in the Stanley Cup Playoffs will culminate Sunday with the 200th Game 7 in NHL history – and first ever in the city of Winnipeg, where the First Round began 15 days ago.
* This is the fifth straight year with multiple Game 7s in the opening round, the second-longest stretch in Stanley Cup Playoffs history behind a nine-year run from 2008 to 2016.
STARS SKATE TO THRILLING MULTI-GOAL, THIRD-PERIOD COMEBACK WIN IN GAME 7
After falling behind 2-0 to the Avalanche, Mikko Rantanen (3-1—4) scored two straight goals to tie the game, assisted on Wyatt Johnston’s go-ahead goal with 3:56 remaining in regulation and then completed his hat trick to lift the Stars past his former team and into the 2025 Second Round. Dallas became just the fourth team in NHL history to record a multi-goal, third-period comeback win in a Game 7, joining San Jose (2019 R1 vs. VGK), Boston (2013 CQF vs. TOR) and Montreal (1979 SF vs. BOS).
* WATCH HEREfor full highlights from Avalanche-Stars Game 7.
* Rantanen, who posted 1-3—4 in Game 6, recorded four points in a period for the second consecutive game and became the first player in NHL history to achieve the feat (regular season or playoffs). He finished the 2025 First Round with 5-7—12 (7 GP), which marked his most in a playoff series and tied the second most in a postseason round by a Stars/North Stars skater (also Roope Hintz in2023 R1, Brian Bellows in 1991 DSF & Tony McKegney in1985 DF) — only Dennis Maruk (13 in 1986 DSF) has more.
#NHLStats highlights from a thrilling Game 7:
* Rantanen recorded the first-ever hat trick in a single period of a Game 7. With Rantanen netting the 80th hat trick of this season, AstraZeneca has officially reached their donation goal of $300k to the Hockey Fights Cancer fund of the V Foundation.
* Rantanen became the second player in NHL history with a four-point period in a Game 7 (also Kevin Labanc in P3 of 2019 R1 w/ SJS). He also became the third player in Stars/North Stars history to record four points in a Game 7, joining Dave Balon (1-3—4 in 1968 QF) and Milan Marcetta (2-2—4 in 1968 QF).
* Pete DeBoer became the first coach in NHL history to record multiple comeback wins when trailing by two-plus goals in the third period of a Game 7 (also 2019 R1). He improved to 9-0 in Game 7s to set NHL record for career wins among head coaches and skaters.
* Johnston became the eighth player in Stanley Cup Playoffs history with at least one goal in each of his first three career Game 7s.
* Johnston became the first player in NHL history to score multiple series-clinching goals in Game 7s at age 22 or younger. He also became the first player in Stars/North Stars history to score multiple series-clinching goals in a Game 7 (also 2023 R2).
* The Stars improved to 3-0 in their last three series against the Avalanche and 5-2 in seven all-time postseason rounds versus Colorado dating to the 1999 Conference Finals. The Stars’ five series wins against the Avalanche are tied for their most versus one opponent since relocating to Texas in 1993-94 (also 5 vs. EDM).
* Dallas will face either St. Louis or Winnipeg depending on the result of the second Game 7 of the 2025 First Round on Sunday. The Stars hold an all-time series record of 6-8 against the Blues and have never faced the Jets.
QUICK CLICKS
* Matt Coronato signs 7-year, $45.5 million contract with Flames
* Schenn brothers putting friendship on hold for Game 7 of Western 1st Round
* 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Golden Knights vs. Oilers Western 2nd Round preview
* Former Panthers tossing friendships ‘out the window’ for Maple Leafs in East 2nd Round
* Jordan Binnington‘s track record gives Blues confidence against Jets in Game 7
FIRST ROUND COMES FULL CIRCLE WITH FIRST-EVER GAME 7 IN WINNIPEG
The finale for the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs will take place in the same frenzied atmosphere where it began two weeks ago: amid the Whiteout at Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre, as the Jets meet the Blues in Game 7 (7 p.m. ET on Sportsnet, CBC, TVAS, TBS, MAX, FDSNMW). The winner of Sunday’s showdown, the 200th Game 7 in NHL history, will advance to the Second Round and face the Stars.
* NHL Release: First Round Peaks Sunday Night with Jets-Blues Game 7 Showdown
* #NHLStats Pack: Blues and Jets to Clash in First-Ever Game 7 in Winnipeg
* The Jets will look to maintain the trend of home team success both in these playoffs (31-15) and within the series, which has seen the hosts post a perfect 6-0 record and outscore the visitors 29-12 so far. Eleven series in NHL history have seen home teams go 7-0, most recently in the 2022 First Round matchup between the Hurricanes and Bruins (a look at the other 10 instances).
* The Blues have won four consecutive Game 7s and can become the fifth team in NHL history to win at least five straight, while the Jets will try to improve to a perfect 2-0 in Game 7s when they host one for the first time. St. Louis will play its 19th all-time Game 7 (10-8 in 18 GP), the most among all non-Original Six franchises and fifth-most all-time.
* While this matchup is both the 13th Game 7 involving a Wild Card team and 26th involving the Presidents’ Trophy winners, it also is a battle between two “No. 1 teams”: Winnipeg topped the overall NHL standings for much of the season and finished with that rank, while St. Louis put themselves in this position by posting the League’s top record from the 4 Nations Face-Off onward.
* Despite the different paths that led to their first head-to-head Game 7, these clubs had the two longest winning streaks in 2024-25 – both franchise records. Winnipeg (11-0-0 from Jan. 22 to Feb. 26) spanned the 4 Nations break with its run and St. Louis (12-0-0 from March 15 to April 5) later strung together a dozen consecutive wins to pull away in the Wild Card race.
4 NATIONS FACE-OFF REVISITED, BROTHERLY LOVE AMONG GAME 7 STORYLINES
Jordan Binnington and Connor Hellebuyck will go head-to-head in a winner-take-all game for the second time in two and a half months, following Binnington’s 31-save overtime victory against Hellebuyck (24 saves) in Canada’s 3-2 overtime victory against USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game. Both goaltenders are perfect in winner-take-all games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and neither has allowed more than one goal against in a Game 7.
* Overall, players representing nine countries have dressed in this series, including 23 Canadians (13 WPG, 10 STL), 13 Americans (8 WPG, 5 USA) – including five who were part of 4 Nations Face-Off rosters for those countries – as well as Swedish (3; 1 WPG, 2 STL), Russian (3; 1 WPG, 2 STL), Czech (1 STL), Danish (1 WPG), Swiss (1 WPG) along with the only French and Australian nationals in the NHL this season: Blues teammates Alexandre Texier of France and Nathan Walker of Australia. Walker has scored in each of the past two games and can become the second player born outside North America to post a three-game playoff goal streak for the Blues (following Vladimir Tarasenko: 4 GP in 2019).
* Luke and Brayden Schenn will be the first brothers to oppose each other in a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2003 Stanley Cup Final when Scott Niedermayer helped the Devils defeat younger brother Rob Niedermayer and the Ducks. Overall, this will be the ninth Game 7 with brothers going head-to-head – the third involving the Blues and first for the Jets franchise. This will be the second Game 7 involving both Schenn brothers – they were teammates with the Flyers in a 2014 First Round defeat (at NYR).
