Mikko Rantanen is in a tough fight.
The Christmas break is behind us and the NHL returned to real games with a round of ten games.
Mikko Rantanen was the absolute figure of the Dallas Stars in the night’s match against the Chicago Blackhawks, but the Finn’s night of three power points (1+2) was not enough to win. Rantanen was involved in every Stars goal, when the Stars bowed to the Blackhawks after the winning shootout 3-4.
Rantanen’s goal came in the third period from a loose puck in front of the goal. In the shootout, Rantanen unluckily lost the puck and couldn’t even make the shot.
The results of 1+2 increased Rantanen’s season balance to 15+39=54, with which he is fifth in the NHL’s points market.
In the last six matches, Rantanen has forged 2+10 performances. The key figure in Chicago’s victory had been hit twice Tyler Bertuzzi. The Blackhawks snapped their six-game losing streak with the win.
Mikko Rantanen scored 1+2 against the Chicago Blackhawks. PDO
In the calendar year 2025, Rantanen has collected 20+52=72 points in 58 regular season matches. He has now reached at least 70 points for the sixth year in a row. At the same time, he shares third place all-time with the Finns Sebastian Ahon and Alexander Barkov with. Above are only Jari Kurri and Teemu Selänne in its tenth season.
Teuvo Teräväinen and Stars’ other Finns were left with no points in the match.
Luukkonen continued his incredible streak in Buffalo
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen fended off the Buffalo Sabers for their eighth straight win, when the Boston Bruins fell 4–1. Luukkonen stopped 21 shots and took his sixth win of the season in 12 games.
Buffalo now holds the NHL’s longest active winning streak. Even before the streak, the Sabers were at the bottom of their conference, eight points behind the playoff line, but now the team has moved into a tie with the Florida Panthers in the battle for the last wild card spot.
Jarmo Kekäläinen was elevated to GM of the Sabers before the start of the winning streak when Kevyn Adams was allowed to move from the Finn’s path. The Sabers haven’t made the playoffs in 14 years.
Luukkonen won the battle of the Finnish goalkeepers Joonas Korpisaloa against. The Bruins goalkeeper made 30 saves, but Boston already suffered its fifth consecutive loss. Buffalo was chosen as the number one star of the match Mattias Samuelsson power 1+2.
The Sabers played without Rasmus Dahliniawho was returning from Sweden after spending Christmas with his spouse recovering from heart surgery.
Maccelli in tune
In the last four games, Matias Maccelli has scored 1+3 points. AOP / USA TODAY SPORTS
Matias Maccelli scored two goals as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators 7-5 in a fast-paced Ontario local game. Maccelli has collected 5+8 performances in the 26 matches of the season and is only five points away from his total points balance from last season.
Toronto’s star trio was in the match Austin Matthews (1+2), Matthew Knies (2+1) and Max Domi (0+3). With his 416th NHL goal in the match, Matthews tied for tenth place in the all-time goal statistics for players born in the United States.
of Ottawa Linus Ullmark was replaced after conceding four hits. Replaced by the Finnish keeper Leevi Meriläinen turned away 16 shots after coming off the bench.
Other Finnish successes
In the other matches of the night, the Florida Panthers were able to take on the Finns Eetu Luostarinen (1+0), by the Carolina Hurricanes Sebastian Aho (0+1), by the Anaheim Ducks Mikael Granlund (0+1), by the Nashville Predators Erik Haula (0+1) and the Colorado Avalanche Artturi Lehkonen (1+0).
Luostarinen opened the scoring in the Florida Panthers’ 2–4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Lehkonen, on the other hand, emerged at an important moment when he scored the equalizer for Colorado in the penultimate minute against the Vegas Golden Knights and stretched the match to 5-5. The Avalanche finally won after a shootout 6–5.