Mikko Rantanen scored three goals in the second period, leading the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday in Game 1 of their second-round Western Conference semifinal series. The game was played in Winnipeg.
Rantanen's performance marked his second consecutive playoff game with a hat trick. He also scored three goals in the previous game, a win against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 of the first round.
Stars coach Pete DeBoer commented on Rantanen's play, noting his momentum and effectiveness against opponents during the postseason. Jets coach Scott Arniel acknowledged Rantanen as an elite player who requires constant attention on the ice, stating he is currently "feeling it."
The Jets opened the scoring at 3:30 of the second period with a goal from Nino Niederreiter. Rantanen tied the game at 8:43 of the second, capitalizing on a rebound. He scored again at 14:21 with a tipped point shot. Rantanen completed the natural hat trick on a power play at 16:38 when his wrist shot deflected off a Jets defenseman. The Jets narrowed the deficit later in the period when Mark Scheifele scored at 17:35.
Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger stopped 29 shots. The win snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Stars in Game 1s. Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 21 saves. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Friday in Winnipeg.
Scheifele returned to the Jets lineup after missing the final two games of the first round due to injury. Dallas welcomed forward Jason Robertson back, who had missed the first round series win after sustaining a knee injury late in the regular season. Both teams were without their top defensemen for the contest, with the Stars missing Miro Heiskanen and the Jets missing Josh Morrissey.
The Jets had finished the regular season atop the NHL standings with 116 points, securing home-ice advantage through the playoffs. Dallas finished second in the Central Division with 106 points. DeBoer said the team found a formula in their performance they hope can be successful throughout the series. Arniel noted the Jets "weren't at our best."
Rantanen extended his points streak to four games and now has 15 points in this postseason. He became the first player in NHL history with multiple three-goal periods during the same postseason. He is also the third player ever to record hat tricks in consecutive playoff games, joining Jari Kurri (1985) and Doug Bentley (1944). Center Sam Steele assisted on Rantanen's first goal of the night and said players are trying to get the puck to Rantanen.
"Sometimes it's ups and downs in hockey and now it's going well individually and as a team," Rantanen said.
