Dallas Stars right winger Mikko Rantanen of Nousiainen, Finland recorded an historic hat trick on Wednesday. For only the third time in National Hockey League history, a player recorded a hat trick in two consecutive postseason games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After scoring thrice on Saturday in a 4-2 Stars win over the Colorado Avalanche in game seven of the Western Conference first round series, Rantanen scored three times on Sunday in a 3-2 Stars win over the Winnipeg Jets in game one of the Western Conference second round series on Wednesday.
Who were the other two players?
The first player to have back-to-back playoff hat tricks was Chicago Black Hawks left winger Doug Bentley of Delisle, Saskatchewan. Bentley first scored thrice in a 7-1 Chicago win over the Detroit Red Wings on March 28, 1944 in game four of the Stanley Cup semifinals, and then three more times in a 5-2 Black Hawks win over the Red Wings in game five of the Stanley Cup semifinals on March 30, 1944.
The second player to have back-to-back playoff hat tricks was Edmonton Oilers right winger Jari Kurri of Helsinki, Finland. Kurri first scored thrice in a 10-5 Oilers win over the Black Hawks in game five of the Clarence Campbell Conference Finals on May 14, 1985, and then four more times in an 8-2 Oilers win over the Black Hawks in game six of the Clarence Campbell Finals on May 16, 1985.
Inside Look at Rantanen’s hat trick
Rantanen scored all three goals in a single period against the Jets. He first tied the game at one at 8:43 of the second period from Evgenii Dadonov of Chelyabinsk, Russia and Sam Steel of Ardrossan, Alberta. Rantanen then put the Stars up 2-1 from defensemen Thomas Harley of Mississauga, Ontario and Ilya Lyubshkin of Moscow, Russia at 14:21 of the second period. Rantanen’s hat trick then came with three minutes and 22 seconds left in the second period on the power-play from Matt Duchene of Haliburton, Ontario and Roope Hintz of Tampere, Finland. The goal was a game-winner and put the Stars up 3-1.
Fantastic postseason to date
Rantanen leads all players in five offensive categories in the postseason. They are goals (eight), points (15), even strength goals (six), game-winning goals (two), and shooting percentage (27.6).
