Colorado Split Yields Thunder/Nuggets And Stars Vs Tonight’s Jets/Blues Winner “QTRS”

A “Colorado split” (ode to Elliott Gould, who was in better films, but I liked him and “California Split”–alas no split, as all three L.A. winter sports teams were ousted within 4 nights of first round play) resulted in one “quarter” matchup (top ranked Oklahoma City (Thunder) vs the Denver Nuggets (they ripped the L.A. Clippers) being finalized, while Dallas’ Mikko Rantanen’s led, (4-2) home win, overcoming a (2-0) 3rd period deficit, advances the Stars to a “Qtr,” either to start at top ranked Winnipeg (Jets) or at home in what would be an 15th ‘offs series, between the Stars franchise either in Dallas or Minnesota and the St. Louis Blues.

Rantanen scored 2 goals that tied the tilt, Wyatt Johnston had the goal that put them ahead to stay with less than 4 minutes to play before an e-net goal by Rantanen, which meant what it meant, with less than a minute to play.

Dallas, whose coach Peter DeBoer is a record (9-0) in #7’s but has never titled, made the final round after winning 7 game series from the ‘Lanche (their coach Jared Bednar is (0-4) in game 7’s, but won it all in 2022 and “Col” also won crowns in ’96 and ’01) in ’99 (Dallas won the franchise’s lone title that season), 2000 (the Devils 6’d them in the final round) and in the 2020 “bubble qtr’s” before losing to the Lightning of Tampa Bay in the final.

Mikko Rantanen, pictured above was traded by the ‘Lanche to quarters qualifier Carolina (Hurricanes) who in turn, dealt him to the Stars.

Maybe Rantanen and the Stars vs another team, the Hurricanes, who traded him, in the NHL Final? Odds vs it, but it is not that big a longshot.