In Winnipeg, Mikko Rantanen delivered a natural hat trick during the second period, propelling the Dallas Stars to a narrow 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in the opening game of their second-round NHL playoff series on Wednesday.
Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger was solid between the pipes, stopping 30 shots. This marks the first postseason encounter between Dallas and Winnipeg.
Nino Niederreiter and Mark Scheifele found the net for the Jets. The loss snapped Winnipeg`s four-game home winning streak at Canada Life Centre. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 21 shots.
Scheifele made his return to the lineup after suffering an upper-body injury in Game 5 of Winnipeg’s initial series against the St. Louis Blues.
Dallas also welcomed back winger Jason Robertson. He had missed the entire first round, a seven-game battle with the Colorado Avalanche, due to a knee injury sustained in the final game of the regular season.
Game 2 of this best-of-seven series is scheduled for Friday, again in Winnipeg.
