Stars double up Penguins behind Rantanen's return

Dallas scores three unanswered goals in the second period to end a four-game skid

Mar. 29, 2026 at 8:17pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with players and the puck broken down into sharp, angular shapes and planes of color, conveying the fast-paced energy of the sport.A cubist interpretation of the intense action on the ice as the Stars and Penguins battled it out in a high-scoring affair.Today in Pittsburgh

Mikko Rantanen scored in his first game in nearly two months, and the Dallas Stars tallied three unanswered second-period goals to end a four-game skid and defeat the host Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Saturday. Rantanen and Jason Robertson each had a goal and an assist for Dallas, which had gone 0-3-1 in its last four games.

Why it matters

The win helps the Stars maintain their position in the Western Conference playoff race, while the Penguins continue to struggle at home, having been outscored 17-6 in their last three games at PPG Paints Arena.

The details

Rookie Justin Hryckowian, Lian Bichsel and Mavrik Bourque also scored for the Stars, who swept the two-game season series with Pittsburgh after winning in Dallas in December. Erik Karlsson had a goal and two assists for Pittsburgh, which was playing without both Evgeni Malkin and captain Sidney Crosby due to lower-body injuries. Anthony Mantha and Noel Acciari also scored for the Penguins.

  • The Stars trailed 1-0 and 2-1 in this contest before exploding for three goals, two on the power play, in the second period.
  • Karlsson's goal in the second period broke two franchise records for Penguins defensemen: most goals in a single month (9) and most multi-point games in a single month (9).

The players

Mikko Rantanen

A forward for the Dallas Stars who scored in his first game in nearly two months after returning from a lower-body injury.

Jason Robertson

A forward for the Dallas Stars who had a goal and an assist in the game, tying him with Wyatt Johnston for the team lead in goals with 40.

Erik Karlsson

A defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins who had a goal and two assists, breaking franchise records for most goals in a single month (9) and most multi-point games in a single month (9) by a Penguins defenseman.

Evgeni Malkin

A forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins who missed the game due to a lower-body injury.

Sidney Crosby

The captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins who missed the game due to a lower-body injury.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This game highlights the Stars' ability to bounce back from a recent slump, as well as the Penguins' ongoing struggles at home without key players like Malkin and Crosby. The records set by Karlsson also demonstrate his continued excellence on the Penguins' blue line.