Mikko Rantanen gave the American Airlines Center crowd an early taste of what fans can expect if Team USA and Team Finland match up in the elimination rounds of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
With less than eight minutes to play in Monday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Winnipeg Jets, the Stars were in a neck-and-neck third period with their divisional rival when their points leader made the play of the game, dragging multiple defenders before laying Jets goalie and projected Team USA starter Connor Hellebuyck flat on his back with a backhanded shot.
“The game is slower for some of those guys, and he’s one of them,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan. “It’s hard to win in this league without star players, and that’s what he is.”
Rantanen, whose goal was his 20th of the season, finished with two points to lift the Stars to their fifth consecutive win as the Olympic break nears.
Sports Roundup
Rantanen’s goal could’ve and should’ve secured the win. But the Stars have had a recent issue of allowing opponents to climb back into games in the third period. They did so again with 1:43 remaining in regulation when Logan Stanley tied the game at 3-3 while the Jets had an extra attacker on. The puck barely deflected off Rantanen’s stick before going in the net.
But in overtime, Stars goalie Jake Oettinger outlasted his soon-to-be Team USA teammate. Oettinger stopped Mark Scheifele on a breakaway before Thomas Harley scored the game-winning goal at the other end.
Matt Duchene and Harley, two players who have struggled more than normal and fought through injuries, combined for the game-winner.
“You need them,” Gulutzan said. “Their play has elevated, and it’s elevated our team.”
Harley had also scored the series-clinching goal against the Jets in the second round of the playoffs last year.
Monday’s contest was thrilling from the start. Despite a scoreless first period, both teams had ample chances, and their netminders made eight saves apiece. Solid showings for Oettinger and Hellebuyck ended with 24 saves each.
The Stars played Winnipeg physically from the start, with Adam Erne leading Dallas with five hits in the first period alone.
Neither team broke through on the scoresheet until the start of the second period. A hooking penalty on Jonathan Toews put Dallas on the power play at the start of the second period where Jason Robertson had a flawless slot deflection off a pass from Rantanen to give Dallas the early lead.
But the Stars’ lead lasted less than two minutes. As “Otter’s better” chats rang out from the AAC crowd, Oettinger let in Winnipeg’s first goal of the night — a follow up by Gabriel Vilardi off a rush chance. A penalty by Rantanen a minute later then put Winnipeg up a man and led to Cole Perfetti giving his team the 2-1 lead.
The Stars had a prime opportunity to answer when two Jets penalties put the Stars on a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:14, but Dallas couldn’t register a shot on goal. Wyatt Johnston and Miro Heiskanen whiffed on shots, as the top unit spent nearly three minutes straight on the ice across the two penalties.
The Stars ultimately found their answer late in the second period when Nils Lundkvist scored by crashing the net — his third goal of the season and first since Dec. 27.
The two teams passed the halfway point of the period tied at 2-2 before Rantanen’s highlight-reel play and Stanley’s timely answer.
But Harley helped the Stars win their second straight contest that reached overtime or a shootout. Before that, the Stars had lost four consecutive games that went past regulation.
After a rough stretch in late December and most of January, the Stars have gotten back on track, tying their longest win streak of the season.
They’ll have the chance to set a new season-long win streak on Wednesday against St. Louis at home before the league pauses play for 2½ weeks while many of its players travel to Milan.
“They’re big points,” Rantanen said. “Obviously, Colorado and Minnesota, they don’t lose a lot of games, so we can’t lose either.
“Took us a little bit too long to get this going, but we’re. here now. Can’t look back anymore.”
Stars make first trade ahead of deadline for defenseman prospect from CalgaryStars-Jets preview: Dallas looks to continue hot streak in lead-up to Olympic break
Find more Stars coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.