EDMONTON – NETNEWSLEDGER SPORTS – Buckle up, hockey fans. The Edmonton Oilers are back in the Western Conference Final, and this time, the road to the Stanley Cup runs through Dallas—and through Mikko Rantanen.
After a whirlwind season that saw Rantanen traded twice, the Finnish forward has landed in Dallas and is making a serious playoff impact. He leads the NHL postseason with 19 points (9G, 10A) in 13 games, and the Oilers are well aware that slowing him down is Priority No. 1.
🎙️ “He’s a beast. Big, smart, skilled—he sees the ice, wins battles, and finishes. The guy’s a handful,” said Oilers captain Connor McDavid. “But we’re ready. We’re excited. This is what it’s all about.”
Rantanen’s Wild Ride to the Stars
Rantanen began the season alongside Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado, but a blockbuster three-team trade in January sent him to Carolina. Then, on March 7, Dallas swooped in ahead of the deadline and signed him to an eight-year, $96 million deal starting next season.
He’s wasted no time earning that contract.
In the first round, Rantanen torched his former Avs teammates with a hat trick in Game 7, part of a 12-point series. In the second round, he kept the offense rolling as Dallas eliminated Winnipeg in six games, capped by an OT winner from Thomas Harley in Game 6.
🎙️ “He changes their dynamic,” said Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch. “Their identity is still similar, but with Rantanen? They’re dangerous at every turn.”
Edmonton’s Offense Rolls Four Lines Deep
Don’t sleep on the Oilers, though. They’re not just a two-man show.
McDavid (17 points) and Leon Draisaitl (16 points) have been doing what they do best, but the Oilers have 16 different goal scorers this postseason. From Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to Evan Bouchard, everyone’s contributing.
🎙️ “People love to talk about Dallas’ depth,” McDavid said. “But look at us—we’ve got four lines rolling, special teams clicking, and guys stepping up across the board.”
This is Edmonton’s third trip to the conference final in four years, and there’s no sense of stage fright. In fact, there’s a quiet confidence brewing.
🎙️ “It’s starting to feel like the norm,” McDavid said. “That’s a good thing. We’re built for this.”
The Stars Shine Bright… But So Do the Oilers
Dallas isn’t a one-man show either. Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Joe Pavelski, and now Rantanen headline a Stars team that boasts eight 20-goal scorers. They’ve got defense. They’ve got goaltending. They’ve got experience.
🎙️ “They’re deep, no doubt,” McDavid said. “But we’ve been here. We know what it takes. And we’re ready.”
Puck Drops Wednesday Night in Dallas
Game 1 of this best-of-seven series goes down Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at American Airlines Center. For Edmonton, the goal is simple: contain Rantanen, match Dallas’ depth, and take one on the road.
🎙️ “Rantanen is elite,” said Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner. “But so are we. Let’s drop the puck and find out who wants it more.”
