Dallas Stars game notes: Rantanen returns, another 40-goal scorer, & TWO empty netters in win at Penguins
Mar 28, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque (22) celebrates his empty net goal with teammates against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Dallas Stars waded through bumpy waters, but eventually found their game in a 6-3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday. Stars lines Bunting – Johnston – Rantanen Robertson – Duchene – Bourque Benn – Hryckowian – Blackwell Bäck – Hyry – Bastian Lindell – Heiskanen Harley – Lundkvist Bichsel – Myers Oettinger DeSmith Scratches: Petrovic, Capobianco, Lyubushkin, Erne, Hintz (injured).
Top story The return of Mikko Rantanen. Rantanen hasn’t played since Feb. 4.
He was injured at the Olympics, missed Finland’s Bronze Medal game, then missed every game for Dallas since. His return is a big one, obviously. He is the best player on the Stars.
He also may be the most important. And luckily for Dallas, he doesn’t take long to get back into the swing of things. Rantanen scored a power-play goal and picked up the primary assist on Jason Robertson’s extra-man tally.
He played 18:57, made some of his elite passes and plays in traffic, and had an immediate impact. Good news for Dallas that he is back. Bad news is that Sam Steel had to fly back to Dallas to be further evaluated for a hip flexor/groin injury and Nathan Bastian left the game today after blocking a shot and did not return.
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