Rantanen caps hat trick in overtime as Dallas Stars defeat Boston Bruins 3-2

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

The Dallas Stars defeated the Boston Bruins 3-2 at American Airlines Center on Tuesday, with Mikko Rantanen scoring the deciding power-play goal at 3:52 of overtime after completing a hat trick. The win extended Dallas’ record to 5-3-1, while Boston fell to 7-2-1 despite having won five straight games entering the matchup and finishing 3-0-1 on a four-game road trip.

Rantanen’s overtime goal followed a sequence where he received a pass from Miro Heiskanen near the goal line, moved the puck slowly toward the net, and beat Boston goaltender Jeremy Swayman with a backhand to the glove side. Jason Robertson added two assists in the victory for Dallas.

Boston struck first when Matthew Poitras scored at 2:09 of the first period. The goal came on a one-timer from the left circle after a cross-ice pass by Frederic Brunet. Poitras later scored again as part of Boston’s scoring production in the game.

Dallas responded to pull even in the second period. Rantanen tied the game 1-1 at 2:50 by burying the rebound of Robertson’s poke attempt. Later in the second, the Stars’ power play and late-game play carried into the third, setting up the next pivotal moments.

James Hagens put Boston back ahead 2-1 at 7:30 of the second period. The play began with Casey Mittelstadt carrying the puck out from behind the net and sending a pass to the crease from the right side before Hagens redirected the puck past Oettinger’s pad.

The game remained tied until the third period, when Rantanen evened it again at 13:38. With the Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy blocking a Roope Hintz shot in the slot, the puck deflected to Rantanen in the face-off circle. Rantanen then snapped a shot to the near side to make it 2-2.

After overtime began, Dallas converted on the power play to complete Rantanen’s three-goal game. In goal for the Stars, Jake Oettinger made 18 saves as Dallas finished the contest with the 3-2 overtime result.

Swayman made 22 saves for Boston. Despite the loss, Boston had entered the matchup in strong form, having won five straight games and closing out its road trip with a 3-0-1 record over four games.