NHL Makes Historic Mikael Granlund Announcement After Stars' Game 4 Win
The Dallas Stars took a commanding 3-1 series lead against the Central Division champion Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, thanks in part to forward Mikael Granlund's dominating performance.
The 33-year-old forward scored his first-ever postseason hat trick as he led the Stars to a 3-1 win over the Jets at the American Airlines Center as the series shifts back to the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg for Game 5 on Thursday.
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Granlund has scored three goals and five points in four playoff games against the Jets, and he's logged four goals and seven points in 11 playoff games this season. His three-goal performance also snapped a four-game goalless streak.
Dallas Stars center Mikael Granlund (64) in action during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche in game two of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center.Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
And while his offensive outburst was memorable for several reasons, Granlund's performance also helped make some Stars franchise history as well.
'Mikael Granlund scored his first career hat trick in the #StanleyCup Playoffs and the third by the @DallasStars this postseason – tied for their most in a single playoff year (also 3 in 2020),' NHL PR posted on X.
Granlund's hat trick, which is also just the second multi-goal game of his postseason career, is the Stars' third in the last five games.
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Mikko Rantanen recorded one in a 4-2 Game 7 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Dallas' first-round series, and he logged another one four days later in the team's 3-2 win over the Jets in Game 1 of their series.
Game 5 is Thursday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Winnipeg. The Stars have a chance to close out the series and exact a little revenge on their division rival, who took three of four games from them during the regular season en route to their first-ever Central Division title.
Related: Matthew Tkachuk Sends Ominous Warning to Maple Leafs' William Nylander
Related: Maple Leafs Receive Devastating Anthony Stolarz Injury Update After Game 3
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