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The Dallas Stars took a 1-0 series lead over the Winnipeg Jets, and Mikko Rantanen once again played a standout role. After making history against his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, in the first round, the Rantanen has continued to be the difference maker for the Stars.
In Game 1 against the Jets, the Stars won 3-2 with all three goals coming from the stick of Rantanen. All three of his goals came in the second period and became the first player in nearly 40 years to record a hat trick in back-to-back playoff games.
Behind Jari Kurri and in 1985 and Doug Bentley in 1944, Rantanen is just the third player in NHL history to record that feat.
The accolades don’t stop there for the red-hot Rantanen. His second-period hat trick made him the first player in league history to record multiple three-goal periods in the same postseason.
Mikko Rantanen is the first player in #StanleyCup Playoffs history with multiple three-goal periods in the same postseason.
— NHL (@NHL) May 8, 2025
All we can say is wow. pic.twitter.com/bIsMXfa9Bo
Rantanen started this scoring extravaganza in the final frame of Game 7 against the Avalanche. While the Stars were down 2-0 in the third period, Rantanen scored three goals and added an assist to help lead the Stars to a 4-2 win.
Dating all the way back to Game 5 against the Avalanche, Rantanen has factored in on each of the last 12 Stars’ goals. Now the longest streak in Stanley Cup Playoffs history, he surpassed Mario Lemieux who factored in on nine straight goals for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992.
Through eight games, Rantanen leads the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with eight goals and 15 total points. There is still a ton of hockey to be played, but if he and the Stars keep this up, he’ll be the runaway leader as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoff MVP.
Rantanen has been the center of attention for much of the 2024-25 season, ever since the Avalanche traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes in late January. He never settled in to Carolina, who eventually flipped him at the trade deadline to Dallas.
It's safe to say postseason Rantanen is fitting in with the Stars just fine as they look to make their way back to the Western Conference Final for the third straight year.
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Juraj Slafkovsky is one of the most promising players in the NHL, but now he has been called out by David Pastrnak, who stated he lacks humility. After being picked No. 1 overall in 2022 NHL Draft, expectations were high in Montreal for young star Juraj Slafkovsky, and thus far, he's shown glimpses of being the elite level player many expected when he entered the National Hockey League. However, there are still some major steps to go, and in a recent interview, Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak pointed out perhaps one area where the 21-year old may need to improve moving forward. When asked about Slafkovsky and his potential, Pastrnak gave nothing but a glowing review of the young Canadiens star, but he did note that he believes Slafkovsky needs more humility. 'He's still a young player who is gaining experience in the NHL every year. This season it was already clear that he gave the team more than before...He just needs a little more humility, he should set an example for the young ones.' On the ice, there's no doubting that Slafkovsky has the presence, the size and the talent to be a true star, posting 101 total points over the past two seasons, but for whatever reason, it appears as though Pastrnak believes he needs to improve off the ice before he can take a major leap in Montreal. Ultimately, the talent is still there for Slafkovsky, and at 21-years old, he'll continue to learn off the ice, and if he can go anywhere close to living up to the potential that he's shown in his first three years at the NHL level, there's no doubt that he can be a big time star and help lead the Canadiens to significant post-season success.
Packers Promising Playmaker Limps off Practice Field
Second-year Green Bay Packers running back Marshawn Lloyd can’t seem to catch a break. Chosen by the Packers with the No. 88 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Lloyd dealt with hamstring injuries throughout training camp last summer before suffering a season-ending ankle injury just one week into his rookie season. Marshawn Lloyd Knocked from Packers Practice As the intensity ratchets up at Packers training camp, Lloyd’s second season may have already gotten off on the wrong foot, during Green Bay’s first practice in full pads this summer. According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Lloyd stayed out on the field but didn’t continue to practice, instead watching from behind the huddle without a helmet. Demovsky points out that Lloyd was slow to get up but then did not return to practice the rest of the day. The Packers are likely hoping for big things from Lloyd, who is likely to compete with Emmanuel Wilson for the lion’s share of carries behind Wilson. It remains to be seen how serious Lloyd’s injury is, but if the 24-year-old is forced to miss any significant time, general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Packers may be wise to go shopping for some quality running back help in the days and weeks ahead.
Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield breaks news about contract situation
Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht recently suggested the club and Baker Mayfield will sign a contract extension "when the time is right" because Tampa Bay wants Mayfield "to be our quarterback for a long time." During a Monday appearance on CBS Sports HQ, Mayfield broke some news regarding the three-year, $100M deal he signed to stay with the Buccaneers back in March 2024. "You know, right now, I’m under contract through 2026," Mayfield told CBS Sports' Pete Prisco, as shared by the JoeBucsFan website. "So it was really just about getting guaranteed money for 2026, and they did that. And that’s all I can ask for. I signed the contract and knew what it was." JoeBucsFan noted that Mayfield's $40M salary for 2026 was not previously guaranteed. That's no longer an issue for the 30-year-old after he guided the Buccaneers to back-to-back division titles. While Mayfield is working with his third offensive coordinator (Josh Grizzard) in three seasons with Tampa Bay, he's also coming off the best campaign of his pro career. According to Pro Football Reference, Mayfield ended the 2024 regular season ranked fourth in the NFL among qualified players with a 106.8 passer rating, third with 4,500 passing yards and tied for second with 41 touchdowns through the air. In Tampa Bay, Mayfield found a franchise that has let him be his true self after he spent time with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams from January 2022 through January 2023. He's now the emotional leader of a Buccaneers offense that needed more than just solid play at the sport's most important position after living legend Tom Brady retired in February 2023. "Right now it’s winning," Mayfield said on Monday about his mindset for the upcoming season. "I know good things will happen after that. But I trust this place. I love being here. Obviously, [I’m] used to bouncing around. I’ve done that before, but I don’t want to leave." As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Buccaneers tied for seventh among the betting favorites at +1300 odds to win the NFC Championship Game held in January 2025. Even if Mayfield fails to lead Tampa Bay to Super Bowl LX, it sounds like he will remain with the Buccaneers through at least the start of the 2026 season.
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