If you're circling games on the NHL calendar, go ahead and put a bold red mark on the next matchup between the Dallas Stars and the New York Islanders. Tensions are already simmering, and the temperature might hit a boil when these two teams meet again - all thanks to a hit that left a lasting impact, both physically and emotionally.
In their last meeting, Mikko Rantanen, the Stars’ towering forward, delivered a hit on Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov that crossed the line from physical to dangerous. Romanov left the game injured and now faces a long-term absence. Rantanen was ejected, but the fallout didn’t end there.
Islanders head coach Patrick Roy had some pointed words for Rantanen in the aftermath. And while Rantanen hasn’t said much publicly since the incident, he recently opened up - if only slightly - ahead of their rematch in March.
“Usually if something happens, if somebody gets pissed off, the media picks it up,” Rantanen said. “So I’m not really surprised it got so big.”
That’s a calm, almost casual response, but the subtext is clear: Rantanen knows the spotlight is on him. And when asked if he’s worried about retaliation from the Islanders, he didn’t flinch.
“No, no, no,” he said. “I’m just going to play there, play hard, play hockey, and see what comes at me.
But I’m a grown man. So I can stand up for myself.”
That’s a confident tone from a player who doesn’t exactly have a reputation as an enforcer. Rantanen, for all his size and power, has generally stayed away from the rougher side of the game.
But that seems to be changing - or at least evolving. He’s been throwing his weight around more this season, and while he’s not a fighter by trade, he’s shown he’s not afraid to answer the bell when necessary.
Case in point: Rantanen dropped the gloves with Jonathan Huberdeau in the very next game after the Romanov incident. That bout came after another borderline hit, suggesting Rantanen is either adjusting his style or simply playing with more edge - and willing to deal with the consequences.
Whether that’s a calculated shift or just the heat of the moment, one thing’s for sure: the Islanders haven’t forgotten. And neither has Roy, who will no doubt be watching Rantanen’s every move when these teams meet again.
The next Stars-Islanders clash won’t just be about points in the standings - it’s got all the makings of an emotional, physical showdown. And with Rantanen right in the middle of it, the stakes feel even higher.