Mikko Rantanen commented on the uproar.
Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen name popped up again in the night’s NHL round, and not just for power points.
The Stars won 4–1 at home against the Los Angeles Kings and Rantanen recorded 1+1 performances in the match, but the collision in the opening set took the most attention.
The Finnish striker drove with power to the goal by Sam Steele shot after shot and collided with the Kings goaltender by Darcy Kuemper with. As a result of the contact, Kuemper fell to the ice and had to leave the match. The situation was checked, but Rantanen was not punished.
Rantanen commented on what happened after the match and emphasized that the situation was completely unintentional.
– It was a sad situation. I just drove to the goal and thought I was going to go above the goalkeeper’s area. Dumoulin was there and kind of steered me in that direction. I didn’t see that Kuemper had met above the goalkeeper’s area, Rantanen said of NHL.com by.
Rantanen went to apologize for the situation. PDO
In the blocking situation, Kuemper managed to move partially outside the goalkeeper’s area, and the contact was made just on the borders of the area. After the match, Rantanen admitted that the situation was his responsibility and openly regretted what had happened.
– It’s a pity to see that he was injured. I immediately told him that this was my fault. Hopefully he won’t have to be on the sidelines for long, Rantanen continued.
The Kings guard is no stranger to Rantanen, as the two celebrated the Stanley Cup championship together with the Colorado Avalanche in the spring of 2022.
The Finnish striker’s season has been disciplinary-wise tinged with penalties. He leads the entire NHL’s ice-box statistics with 67 minutes and received two ejections for questionable tackles and a one-game suspension in November.
Mikko Rantanen hit Darcy Kuemper with dire consequences. Stock photo from August. Matti Matikainen