DALLAS — In a standout performance, Mikko Rantanen showcased his talent on a night dedicated to him, leading the Dallas Stars to a thrilling 4-3 shootout victory over the Edmonton Oilers at the American Airlines Center. The event featured bobblehead giveaways in honor of the Finnish forward, who not only scored twice but also provided a primary assist.
The Stars found themselves in a challenging position, trailing almost the entire game after the Oilers jumped to a 2-0 lead just over seven minutes into the match. Miro Heiskanen managed to tie the score with just 7:40 remaining in regulation, forcing overtime and extending the Stars” points streak to seven games.
Both teams failed to score during the overtime period. In the shootout, Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston each converted their attempts, while goaltender Casey DeSmith made two crucial saves, securing the win for the Stars. This victory improved Dallas” overtime and shootout record to 2-3.
The Oilers struck first when Vasily Podkolzin capitalized on a defensive miscue by the Stars just 3:40 into the contest. Shortly thereafter, a cross-checking penalty by Esa Lindell allowed Leon Draisaitl to score on a power play, doubling Edmonton”s lead.
Despite allowing only eight shots on goal by the halfway mark, the Stars found themselves down by two goals, as the Oilers converted on 25 percent of their shots. However, Rantanen ignited a comeback by scoring the first of his two goals on a power play, as the Stars converted once on four attempts with the man advantage. Dallas has been particularly effective on power plays, netting nine goals in their previous six games.
As the third period unfolded, Connor McDavid increased Edmonton”s lead to two, but Rantanen quickly answered, scoring less than a minute later. A little over three minutes after Rantanen”s goal, Heiskanen found the net off a rebound from a shot by Johnston, who assisted on all three goals scored by the Stars.
The Stars played without three of their top four centers, with Matt Duchene absent for an eighth consecutive game and Roope Hintz missing his fifth straight. Radek Faksa was also ruled out shortly before the game. Additionally, Stars goalie Jake Oettinger did not play due to the birth of his child but served as a backup to DeSmith, who recorded 23 saves.
Despite the challenges posed by missing key players, the Stars stepped up at crucial moments to overcome the team that eliminated them from the playoffs in the past two seasons. The Oilers were competing in their third game within four days. The Stars will host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, beginning their own stretch of three games in four days.
