However good Rantanen and the rest of the team were, the true first star of the series should be head coach Pete DeBoer. Heading into Saturday night’s contest, the Stars' coach was 8-0 in Game 7s, tied for the most Game 7 wins ever for an NHL player or coach.

Don’t blame Mikko Rantanen if it seems like his postgame press conference had a Colorado Avalanche slant to it. A great deal of the questions directed to the Dallas Stars’ postseason hero had to do with his former team.

DeBoer’s latest win was unforgettable. The Stars trailed 2-0 in the third period Saturday. They were minutes from elimination in the Western Conference First Round when forward Mikko Rantanen erupted for three goals and an assist, leading them to a 4-2 victory against his former team, the Colorado Avalanche.