Stars Activate Mikko Rantanen Off Injured Reserve

The Stars will welcome back one of their top players as they kick off a back-to-back set this afternoon in Pittsburgh.  The team announced (Twitter link) they have have activated winger Mikko Rantanen off injured reserve.

Rantanen was one of several impactful NHL players to be injured at the Olympics last month.  He sustained a lower-body injury in the semi-final game against Canada and hasn’t played since then.  Considering the long break for the Olympics, Rantanen last suited up for Dallas back on February 4th.

At that time, Rantanen led the team in assists and points.  He’s still the team leader in assists with 49 although he now sits third on the team in points with 69 through 53 games.  He’s now 16 behind Jason Robertson and nine behind Wyatt Johnston, both of whom have played in all 72 appearances this season.

Rantanen’s absence was never originally expected to keep him out this long.  At the time he landed on IR last month, he had previously been listed as doubtful for their first game back after the break and questionable after that.  Instead, he wound up missing 15 games.

At this point, it’s highly unlikely that Dallas will be able to chase down Colorado for the Central Division lead; they enter play today with a nine-point deficit in that regard.  With that in mind, their focus will likely just be trying to lock down home ice advantage for their eventual first-round matchup against Minnesota.

With that in mind and Dallas playing in a back-to-back set, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising if Rantanen played today but was given tomorrow off for precautionary reasons over throwing him into two games in barely 24 hours.  At any rate, getting a top-line winger back should be a big lift for the Stars heading into the stretch run.