Mikko Rantanen did it again.
The guy nicknamed “Moose” has been about as easy to corral as one too, scoring a hat trick for a second-straight game and leading the Dallas Stars to a Game 1 win against the Winnipeg Jets.
The win snaps a streak of eight Game 1 losses for Dallas. And Stars goalie Jake Oettinger was brilliant at times. But all anyone is talking about after this one is Rantanen.
Check out national reactions from the win below as the hockey world gushes over a red-hot “Moose.”
Sports Roundup
Related:5 thoughts from Stars-Jets: Mikko Rantanen’s hat trick helps Dallas end Game 1 skid Related:Watch: Sizzling Mikko Rantanen scores 3 goals in one period for the second straight game
Final: Stars 3, Jets 2
For the first time since 2020, the Stars have won a Game 1 of a playoff series. They hand Winnipeg its first loss at Canada Life Centre of the postseason.
A Mikko Rantanen hat trick was the difference. He’s quickly becoming the Conn Smythe frontrunner.
— Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) May 8, 2025
Conn Smythanen
— Daryl Reaugh (@Razor5Hole) May 8, 2025
The streak is BROKEN!!!! The Stars are now the winners of 1 Game One in a row!!
— Corby Davidson (@corbydavidson) May 8, 2025
Mikko Rantanen:
— back-to-back hat tricks
— 14 points in his last 4 games
— three straight games with a 3-point period
— leading the playoffs in goals
Best deadline pickup… ever? pic.twitter.com/AdotvPJK0O
— StatMuse Hockey (@statmusehockey) May 8, 2025
Is this the best playoff “holy hell” streak we have ever seen by a DFW individual???? Dirk, Luka, and Adolis come to mind. But my god this sport is so hard to just flat “dominate.” And he is making it look so easy. I love him.
— Corby Davidson (@corbydavidson) May 8, 2025
Nuggets are gettin blown out by 40 so I turn to hockey to save my mind from spiraling
Only to find that Mikko Rantanen can’t stop scoring goals
Everything is fine. I’m fine. It’s okay. pic.twitter.com/xkbrulfzHq
— Raj – Altitude Sports Radio (Alex Rajaniemi) (@RajOnRadio) May 8, 2025
All are true statements…#TexasHockey
– The Dallas Stars have broken their Game 1 losing streak in the postseason with the 3-2 win over the Jets
– Jake Oettinger won his first game in Winnipeg since November of 2023
– Mikko Rantanen who was traded twice this year is the first…
— Savannah Huemoeller (@sportssavvyy) May 8, 2025
I think you can already see the war of attrition settling in. Who can stay upright, healthy and fast enough the longest. The 1st round is fun and then the real stuff in the trenches starts.
— Brad Gardner (@bradgardnerDBD) May 8, 2025
Twitter: @dmn_stars
Rantanen has hat tricks in back-to-back games.
The Stars gain the early advantage with a 3-2 road victory in the series opener.
‘You always have to know when he’s on the ice,’ Jets coach Scott Arniel said after Rantanen’s second-straight hat trick.
Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.