Mikko Rantanen returned to Ball Arena with no one completely sure why he left. Regardless of Texas’ lack of state income tax, Sunday showed that he played right into the Avs’ hands. Colorado can win a Stanley Cup without him. And even better, in the playoffs, the Avs will have to go through him.

Once a fan favorite, Rantanen is now a fierce rival following his arrival with Central Division-foe Dallas. And for the first time in his NHL career, Rantanen was a visitor in a building he’s called home for a decade.

"I told them I'll be flexible and I want to play here for a long time. Then a couple days later they traded me," Rantanen said Saturday.