Avs' Nathan MacKinnon 'In Shock' After Losing Another Game 7

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon has yet to win a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and this time around it stings even more. MacKinnon and his Avs' teammates were eliminated by the Dallas Stars, thanks in large part to ex-teammate Mikko Rantanen's third-period hat trick. MacKinnon is shocked by what took place.

MacKinnon spoke to the media after the tough defeat, and opened up about the emotional roller coaster he's going through. "It's pretty shocking," MacKinnon said after the 4-2 loss, per The Denver Gazette's Evan Rawal. "Felt like we were in total control, then Mikko ... credit to him, he made some amazing plays. He was the difference-maker, took over. Yeah, I don't know. I'm in shock, to be honest."

The Avalanche have now lost seven straight Game 7s - the longest such streak in the NHL. They last won the do-or-die contest in 2002.

"They were missing their best D (in Miro Heiskanen) and maybe their best forward (in Jason Robertson)," MacKinnon added, per DNVR. "We still couldn't beat them. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know what we're gonna do."

The Avalanche were up 2-0 after MacKinnon scored in the first minute of the third period and next thing you know the game got turned on its head. Colorado will dwell on this loss over the summer and look to pick themselves up and be back in Stanley Cup contention next season.

Photo credit:  Jerome Miron-Imagn Images