The intensity of the NHL playoffs continued Sunday with several players delivering impactful performances in the second round. Among the standouts were Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen and Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
After being relatively quiet in Game 2, Mikko Rantanen of the Dallas Stars showcased his offensive power in Game 3 against the Winnipeg Jets. He recorded three points, scoring a goal and adding two assists, helping propel the Stars to a 5-2 victory and a 2-1 lead in the series.
The Stars also benefited greatly from defenseman Thomas Harley. Playing significant minutes in the absence of Miro Heiskanen, Harley contributed effectively at both ends of the ice, proving to be an invaluable asset throughout Game 3.
In the Eastern Conference matchup, Sergei Bobrovsky was instrumental for the Florida Panthers in Game 4 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Shaking off some tough breaks from the previous game, Bobrovsky posted a crucial shutout, enabling the Panthers to tie the series 2-2.
Based on these performances, here are the three stars of the night:
3. Thomas Harley | D | Dallas Stars
Filling in capably for the injured Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Harley is establishing himself as a reliable top-pairing defenseman for Dallas. His performance in Game 3 against Winnipeg further highlighted his development.
Harley contributed offensively with a secondary assist on a power-play goal and later scored himself during a delayed penalty sequence. Defensively, he handled the toughest assignments, leading the Stars in five-on-five ice time. Analytics reinforce his impact, with Dallas controlling over 60% of expected goals while he was on the ice.
2. Mikko Rantanen | RW | Dallas Stars
The Winnipeg Jets` success in containing Mikko Rantanen in Game 2 was short-lived. The dynamic Finnish winger responded emphatically in Game 3 with another three-point effort.
Rantanen`s points included a spectacular goal on the rush, where he skillfully deked a defender before finding the net. This marked his ninth goal of the postseason, leading the entire NHL. He`s been exceptionally productive, tallying 17 points in his last six games, with three or more points in five of those contests.
His recent scoring tear was underscored by a stretch where he recorded a point on 13 consecutive Dallas goals before that remarkable run concluded.
1. Sergei Bobrovsky | G | Florida Panthers
Overcoming misfortune from Game 3, Sergei Bobrovsky delivered a perfect performance when his team needed it most, recording a shutout in Game 4 to pull the Panthers even in the series against Toronto.
While the Panthers defense limited high-danger chances somewhat, Bobrovsky was flawless on the shots he faced, stopping all 22 attempts, including crucial saves against top players like Auston Matthews. His analytical metrics were strong, saving nearly two goals above expected and successfully denying seven high-danger scoring opportunities.
