Stars vs. Avalanche Game 7 score: Dallas wins in overtime, advances to first West Finals since 2008

It was a thrilling end to a thrilling series

The Dallas Stars were able to halt the budding momentum of the Colorado Avalanche on Friday, defeating their opponents in a Game 7 overtime win, 5-4. Joel Kiviranta, who played in just 11 games in the regular season, was the hero for the Stars, scoring the game winner just over seven minutes into the extra period.

The comeback narrative was pretty much how the game went for Dallas in this pivotal playoff game. It was a constant case of catching up to the Avalanche, even in the final minutes of regulation when the Stars scored a game-tying goal with 3 minutes and 30 seconds left in the period -- a mere 10 seconds after Avalanche took a 4-3 lead. It was reminiscent of how, after going up 3-1, the Avalanche were able to put back-to-back wins together to force this Game 7, with Dallas' back to the wall.

But an unlikely situation birthed an unlikely hero. Kiviranta not only played less than a dozen in the regular season, he also scored just one goal during those appearances. He tripled that total on Friday alone with a hat trick that included the winning goal which sealed the victory for the Stars.

Even though this series went the distance, it won't be a disadvantage for the Stars, who will face the winner of the Vancouver Canucks and Las Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Finals -- another series that has gone to a pivotal Game 7. 

CBS Sports followed along with the action to provide live updates and highlights from all of the action in Game 7 down below.

[Sep 4, 2020 at 7:06 pm ET · Gabriel Fernandez]

GOAL! Dallas 5, Colorado 4 (OT)

The Stars are onto the Western Conference Finals thanks to Joel Kiviranta getting his hat-trick goal!