Mikko Rantanen dominance gives Stars edge over shaky Jets

The Dallas Stars have been ready since the beginning of this series. But the Winnipeg Jets continue to search for their best game. The Stars are confident, fast, and even-keel. The Jets are nervous and unconfident. Although both teams have scored an equal amount of goals, the Stars have appeared more at ease. The remainder of the series will determine whether the Jets can correct this and return strong.

Mikko Rantanen 's solid play makes stars feel even more confident
Mikko Rantanen has been playing extremely well, and that makes the Stars feel even better. When one player is on fire like Rantanen, it makes the entire team play better. It also makes the opposing team, such as the Jets, begin to worry more about defense. At times, that causes them to make mistakes.

Stars’ playoff seeding likely settled as Connor Hellebuyck, Jets outclass Dallas at home https://t.co/qoCPMrlBFE

— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) April 11, 2025

The Jets are working hard, but they appear to be overthinking. Good teams make you earn it. Great players such as Rantanen make you question yourself. The Jets have been chasing too much and missing their targets. This has allowed Dallas to remain in command.


The Stars could also rely on who they played last round. They played the Colorado Avalanche, who are a speedy team that plays a great deal like the Jets. So the Stars had a chance to acclimate themselves to this type of speed and pressure already. That could be benefiting them right now.

Miro Heiskanen 's absence reveals Stars' depth and experience
The Stars are also without their number one defenseman, Miro Heiskanen, who hasn't played since January due to a knee injury. But they haven't suffered without him. That indicates just how deep the Stars are. They have more than enough solid and intelligent players to fill the void and get the job done.


The Jets also have an issue: they haven't won a game on the road this playoffs. Matchups mean a lot, and the home team gets to decide who plays whom. During Game 3, Dallas managed to keep Rantanen away from Jets center Adam Lowry. That created more space and more opportunities for Rantanen.


Nevertheless, the Jets do not quit. Their goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck , is among the finest. He is capable of turning it around anytime. The Jets were behind during the previous round as well and came back to defeat the Blues. So they are aware of how to fight back.


Also Read: Kadri Stirs Avalanche Regret As Rantanen Shines For Stars