Rantanen’s midrange goal to open the scoring for Dallas was a low-probability attempt (PGR of 2.57 percent). Between Rantanen’s distance from the goal line (38.17 feet from goal line at point of release), Avalanche goalie Mackenzie Blackwood’s positioning and the fact that there were two defenders in the area of the shot, there was a good chance it could have been blocked. The skilled wrist shot propelled the Stars’ late rally.
In terms of shot location, Rantanen scored two midrange goals on two midrange shots on goal (one was empty-net goal) in Game 7. He ranks among the NHL leaders in midrange goals (three; tied for second behind former teammate Nathan MacKinnon’s four) and midrange shots on goal (eight; tied for seventh) this postseason. Blackwood allowed three midrange goals on 15 midrange shots faced over the final four games of the series against the Stars, all scored by Rantanen.
Rantanen then scored a wraparound goal on the power play that banked in off Colorado defenseman Samuel Girard’s skate at 13:46 of the third period, had the secondary assist on Wyatt Johnston’s power-play goal at 16:04 and capped off his hat trick to seal the victory with an empty-net goal in the final seconds.
Rantanen made the most of his 1.17 miles skated in the third period of Game 7 and has now skated 20.83 miles this postseason, which ranks in the 94th percentile among forwards.
Especially given the circumstances of Rantanen’s finish against the team he played his first nine-plus NHL seasons with and elevating the shorthanded Stars, who were playing all series with injuries to top defenseman Miro Heiskanen and fellow elite wing Jason Robertson, Rantanen truly had a performance for the ages.
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More EDGE stats for Rantanen
