Avalanche, Nathan MacKinnon stunned after season ends at the hands of Dallas Stars

On the other side of the Dallas Stars’ historic, chaotic comeback that saved their season in Game 7 … there’s the Colorado Avalanche, who now have lost seven straight Game 7s as a franchise after falling 4-2 to the Stars.

After allowing four third-period goals and seeing their season end at the hands of their former teammate, Mikko Rantanen, it obviously wasn’t a very chipper visiting locker room at American Airlines Center on Saturday.

Check out what some of the Avs’ said below, including Colorado’s star player Nathan MacKinnon.

Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar

Get the latest D-FW sports news, analysis and opinion delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, Kevin Sherrington’s A La Carte.

On processing how the game ended:

“It’s tough because you put your heart and soul into the whole year, the series, all of it and then you’re in a good position and then it slips away on you. So, it’s tough because I know how hard these guys worked and how bad they wanted it and that’s all you really think of at this point.”

On how Rantanen played during the game:

“Well, what he did in the second period the other night. That’s the thing with Mikko is it’s not about all his creating multiple chances every time he touches the puck, but big moments. You get that first goal in a nice individual effort and finds a way to get the another one with the wrap-around, hits our skate but it’s still a high-quality play and he capitalizes on it. But he can capitalize, that’s what he is, he’s a pure goal scorer. He did that in the third.”

Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon

On his feelings after the loss…

“I don’t know. It’s pretty shocking. Felt like we were in total control and then Mikko, credit to him, he made some amazing plays. He was a difference-maker and he took over. I don’t know. I’m in shock, to be honest with you. Felt like we were in complete control of the game the whole time and just lost it.”

On if the first-round exit is hard to process:

“Yeah, definitely. They were missing their best D and maybe their best forward, so we still couldn’t beat them. Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

Does Mikko scoring make it any different?

“No.”

Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog

On the conversation on the bench during the third period:

“Thought we had a great start to the period, even when they scored one. I thought we came back down and created some good looks and stayed on the gas, earned a power play, Cale [Makar] breaks his stick on a one-timer right from the slot they go down, all of a sudden, they get a power play out of it. So, all of a sudden, it’s a tie. The margin for error in the playoffs is really small. I mean that’s how small it is so. I think we still pushed back and it’s a tied hockey game and then they get a power play again.”

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar

On if the state of the locker room is shocked:

“Yeah. I think we felt like our play was good enough at 5-on-5 and controlled that pace of the game and just, again even when it when 2-1, I felt like we weathered it well. Just some unlucky stuff.”

On processing how things changed rapidly:

“Again, I felt like, you go up 2-0 and then we’re still playing well 2-1, they get one but then we have a couple other chances and we’re still right there and then they get another one and again just right there and tough one on the penalty kill and that’s the way she goes.”