The Dallas Stars surged to a 6-3 comeback win in Game 1 over the Edmonton Oilers without a ton of help from Mikko Rantanen, who collected just one assist in the series opener.
Rantanen has not scored in four straight games but has been all around the net with 3+ shots in three straight outings as he looks to snap his slump.
My best Mikko Rantanen prop bets and NHL picks for Friday, May 23 will key in on these trends.
Mikko Rantanen player prop picks
- Best bet
Mikko Rantanen Over 2.5 shots on goal
(-140) - SGP pick
Mikko Rantanen Over 2.5 shots on goal
Mikko Rantanen Over 0.5 assists
Over 5.5
(+325)
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
Mikko Rantanen best bet
Mikko Rantanen Over 2.5 shots on goal (-140 at BET99)
It looked like the Dallas Stars were about to fall into an early series deficit against the Edmonton Oilers as they trailed 3-1 midway through the game. That was before the Stars scored five straight goals in the final frame to skate to a 6-3 victory.
Mikko Rantanen was relatively quiet with just one assist in Game 1, though the towering winger threw at least three shots on net for the third straight contest — a trend I’m expecting to hold in Game 2.
Rantanen ranks first among all Stars skaters with 42 shots this postseason, which translates to exactly three per game. "The Moose" is also racking up more than 16 shot attempts per 60 minutes in these playoffs per Natural Stat Trick, second on Dallas behind only Miro Heiskanen (16.97).
The Stars did most of their damage on the power play in Game 1 as they scored three times on four man advantage opportunities — something that Rantanen can capitalize on in Game 2.
The Finnish forward ranks tied for sixth in power play shots (11) and shot attempts (21) among all skaters this postseason so he should get plenty of looks if the Oilers are undisciplined again.
Mikko Rantanen same-game parlay
Mikko Rantanen Over 2.5 shots on goal
Mikko Rantanen Over 0.5 assists
Over 5.5
Rantanen finds himself in a bit of a scoring funk with no goals in his last four games, but Dallas’ leading point-getter has still managed to lend a helping hand with two assists over that span.
Rantanen has collected at least one helper in six of his last 10 contests, and his chances of adding to his assist totals are only increasing as his linemates heat up.
Fellow Finnish winger Mikael Granlund is skating with Rantanen on Dallas’ top line and has racked up four goals over his last four games, including one in the Stars’ Game 1 win.
These teams tend to play some high-scoring games as the Stars and Oilers have combined for Over 5.5 goals in three straight meetings. Edmonton has also surpassed that total in nine of its 12 contests this postseason.
Oilers starter Stuart Skinner owns a brutal .872 SV% and a 3.39 GAA this postseason while giving up 4+ goals in four of his six appearances. That should help the Stars score some goals in Game 2 and help them keep up with the Oilers’ loaded offense.
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