The series came down to Game 7, and the difference-maker was Rantanen, the forward the Avalanche traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team deal involving the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 24, only to have the Hurricanes flip him to the Stars before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7.

Back at the beginning of the night, the Stars were unable to get much offense going on a first-period power play, but the penalty kill survived Jamie Benn's double minor for high-sticking Valeri Nichushkin to keep the game scoreless through 20 minutes.