Rantanen's Hat Trick Lifts Stars Over Jets in Semis

Mikko Rantanen made NHL history with a hat trick in the second period, marking his second consecutive playoff game with a three-goal period and leading the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series. Rantanen, who was traded to Dallas at the deadline, has now scored or assisted on 12 straight Stars goals, breaking an NHL playoff record. He leads the postseason with eight goals and 15 points in his last four games. The Stars overcame a 1-0 deficit with Rantanen's three unanswered goals, snapping their eight-game losing streak in Game 1s. Winnipeg's Nino Niederreiter and Mark Scheifele scored, while Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger made 30 saves to secure the victory. Rantanen's dominant performance has made him a frontrunner for playoff MVP honors, with Game 2 scheduled for Friday in Winnipeg.