Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen remained scorching hot in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinal against the Winnipeg Jets. Coming off consecutive four-point nights in the final two games of the first round, Rantanen assembled a natural hat trick in the Western Conference Semifinal opener against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday.
In the end, Dallas prevailed, 3-2.
The Stars trailed, 1-0, in the second period. At 8:43, Rantanen knotted the score. Next, the Finn put Dallas in the lead at 16:43. Finally, at 18:38, Rantanen notched a power play goal for what eventually proved to be the game-winning tally. Nino Niederreiter (1st period) and Mark Scheifele (late second period) scored for Winnipeg.
The Stars skated off with a narrow 3-2 win. Winnipeg outshot Dallas but the Stars had the surplus in the cash register.
In net, Jake Oettinger (29 saves on 31 shots) out-dueled probable Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebyck (21 saves on 24 shots). The Stars went 1-for-2 on the power play and 4-on-4 on penalty kills.
Thomas Harley assisted on Rantanen’s deflection goal that put Dallas ahead, 2-1. Matt Duchene set up Rantanen’s power play game-winner. Roope Hintz had the secondary assist on the winning goal. Additionally, he went 11-for-17 on faceoffs.
Wednesday’s setback marked Winnipeg’s first home loss during the playoffs. On Friday, the teams will square off again at Canada Life Centre for Game Two.
