Finland's Olympic leading scorer sidelined with a lower-body injury, impacting the Stars' playoff aspirations and quest for a strong finish.
The Dallas Stars placed forward Mikko Rantanen on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, retroactive to February 20, the team announced Monday. It is unclear whether Rantanen sustained the injury during the Winter Olympics or went in with the injury as he played in each of Finland’s first five games but was sidelined for their bronze medal matchup against Slovakia.
There is speculation the injury may have occurred during the semifinal against Canada, where Rantanen scored a goal. Despite missing the final game, he finished the Olympics as Finland’s leading scorer with two goals and four assists for six points.
Rantanen’s absence is a significant blow to the Stars as they attempt to finish the NHL season strong. The 26-year-old forward has been on pace for one of the best seasons of his career, recording 20 goals and 49 assists for 69 points in 54 games.
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Although the injury may prevent him from surpassing the 100-point mark for the third time in his career, prioritizing his health could be crucial for Dallas as they attempt to halt a three-game skid in the Western Conference Finals.
With Rantanen sidelined, the Stars will need to adjust their lineup and rely more heavily on secondary scoring for the final stretch of the season. His skill and playmaking ability are difficult to replace, but ensuring he returns fully healthy could provide the team with its best chance to finish the season strong and make a deep playoff push.
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