It wasn’t a handshake line at the end of this remarkable seven-game series for Mikko Rantanen. It was a hug line.

The Dallas Stars have defeated the Colorado Avalanche, 4-2, to win Game 7 and advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Down two goals in the third period, the Stars staged an incredible rally to pull out the win.

In 81 career playoff games for the Avalanche, Rantanen had 101 points (34 goals, 67 assists). His last game with them was Jan. 22, but the regular season ended with him still as their third-leading scorer with 64 points (25 goals, 39 assists) in his 49 games behind Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.