The Dallas Stars waded through bumpy waters, but eventually found their game in a 6-3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday.

Stars lines

• Bunting – Johnston – Rantanen
• Robertson – Duchene – Bourque
• Benn – Hryckowian – Blackwell
• Bäck – Hyry – Bastian

• Lindell – Heiskanen
• Harley – Lundkvist
• Bichsel – Myers  

• Oettinger
• DeSmith

Scratches: Petrovic, Capobianco, Lyubushkin, Erne, Hintz (injured).

Top story

The return of Mikko Rantanen.

Rantanen hasn’t played since Feb. 4. He was injured at the Olympics, missed Finland’s Bronze Medal game, then missed every game for Dallas since. His return is a big one, obviously. He is the best player on the Stars. He also may be the most important. And luckily for Dallas, he doesn’t take long to get back into the swing of things.

Rantanen scored a power-play goal and picked up the primary assist on Jason Robertson’s extra-man tally. He played 18:57, made some of his elite passes and plays in traffic, and had an immediate impact.

Good news for Dallas that he is back. Bad news is that Sam Steel had to fly back to Dallas to be further evaluated for a hip flexor/groin injury and Nathan Bastian left the game today after blocking a shot and did not return. Roope Hintz is getting closer, Radek Faksa could play by the start of the playoffs, but they are also losing bodies at a high rate.

You need bodies in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Live game notebook

Period 1

• Luds said to me, “They better not give up a power-play goal without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.” Well, Erik Karlsson threw a point shot on net, and Anthony Mantha tipped in just seconds into their first power play. For the fifth time in seven games, Dallas has allowed the first goal.
• Dallas has started to find ways to get swimming in its own end early in games lately. One of the primary reasons is turning pucks over while exiting the defensive zone and often while trying to get in a change.
• Rantanen is back on PP1. Matt Duchene stays up with them, but moves down to the goal line spot. Jamie Benn will drop down to PP2. Where will Roope Hintz slide in when he returns?
• The Stars got a huge opportunity with a power play, then about 40 seconds of 5-on-3, then another minute plus of power-play time after. They even took their timeout to rest PP1. But after all that, we have seen a few nice saves from this guy named Stuart Skinner and still sit at 1-0.
• Dallas looked “better” than they did starting the game. However, the only reason they were controlling possession was because they had three power plays (0-3). However, they kept turning the puck over and giving Pittsburgh short-handed chances on repeat. That has been the trend lately, and the power play is not excluded from it, especially with their drop pass.

Penguins 1, Stars 0

Period 2

• Perfect start to the second for Dallas, as Benn and Colin Blackwell put in some good work in the offensive zone, and after Blackwell drove the slot, Justin Hryckowian slammed a rebound into a yawning net.

• But just like that, it’s back to 2-1 because of a perfectly placed shot by Karlsson walking down the slot. Karlsson shouldn’t be able to walk in and rip that clean, but Jake Oettinger should probably also not get beaten from that distance with no screen. It’s a perfectly placed shot over the collarbone, but Oettinger looks to be moving slightly to his right at the release and has to catch up.
  

• Robertson became the second 40-goal scorer for the Stars this season (Wyatt Johnston). That’s the first time in team history and sixth in the franchise they have had multiple. It’s the third time hitting 40 for Robertson’s career.

• The Penguins have decided they want to lose today, so they just keep taking penalties. Dallas is about to begin its fifth power play.
• The Stars made them pay, re-racking a couple of times, and eventually Robertson ripped a bullet seam pass to Rantanen for a one-timer from the right circle.

• Dallas has opened up the scoring floodgates in the second. Lian Bichsel joined the party with a one-timer from the point. Hilariously, he stole Karlsson’s stick to the left of the net before sliding up and blasting the one-timer. This was a similar shot to Robertson’s, both coming from the center of the ice, through screens, and into the open right side of the net past Skinner’s glove. Skinner showed his frustration on this one.

• Nils Lundkvist can’t be too mad about the tripping call against him, as his stuck was stuck in the gap under the skate of the Penguins skater. Looked like he Shish-Kabobed him. That has to be a word.
• Big kill for Dallas to not let Pittsburgh get this game within one as the second period expires.
• Tyler Myers just blocked a point shot by kicking it over the glass. Hilarious.

Stars 4, Penguins 2

Period 3

• Another big penalty for Dallas to kill. They should have this game in control, but they can’t give it away as they have done a bit this season.
• Holding Pittsburgh to just 10 shots nearly midway through the third period is a great stat.
• Stars killed it off again.
• Unfortunately, Hryckowian couldn’t get a puck out at the blue line, and the Penguins scored on a redirect by Noel Acciari in front of the net. A LOT of time for Pittsburgh to tie this game up.

• Now, the Stars are called for too many men. Yikes. They don’t make it easy on themselves, that’s for sure.
• For what feels like the first time in 100 games, the Stars scored an empty-net goal. Still three minutes to go, but breathing room has been restored.
• He did it again, and Bourque is now on empty-net Hat Trick watch. Really, though, Bourque is now at 16 goals in his second NHL season.

Final: Stars 6, Penguins 3