Mikko Rantanen will miss time for the Dallas Stars after sustaining a lower-body injury in the Olympic Semifinal

Mikko Rantanen will miss at least the first two games back for the Dallas Stars after sustaining a lower-body injury in Finland's Olympic semifinal loss to Canada. The Stars' leading scorer was scratched from the bronze medal game Saturday despite Finland capturing third place with a 6-1 victory over Slovakia.Head coach Glen Gulutzan confirmed Tuesday that Rantanen won't be available when Dallas resumes play this week. The Finnish forward leads the Stars with 69 points in 54 games and anchors one of the NHL's most dominant top lines.

Dallas Stars expected to struggle offensively in Mikko Rantanen’s absence

Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman first reported the injury occurred in the third period of Finland's heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Canada. The Finns led 2-0 before allowing three unanswered goals, with Nathan MacKinnon scoring the game-winner late in regulation.Gulutzan told reporters he doesn't have a full update on the severity of Rantanen's injury. He said the forward would see a doctor on Tuesday but shouldn't be expected for the first game or maybe even the first two contests.Friedman reported the injury will be re-evaluated when Rantanen returns to Dallas regarding severity and timeline. The good news is the injury apparently isn't considered season-ending, though the exact severity remains to be determined.

The Stars entered the Olympic break riding a six-game winning streak and sit comfortably in playoff position at 34-14-9 with 25 games remaining. They'll look to continue that momentum despite missing their top scorer.Dallas faces a challenging path to its fourth consecutive Western Conference Final appearance this spring. Standing in the way is a powerhouse Central Division that includes the Minnesota Wild, who boast three Olympic gold medalists in Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, and Matt Boldy.The Wild are the most likely first-round opponent for the Stars and could improve even more before the March 6 trade deadline. If Dallas advances past Minnesota, a date with the NHL-best Colorado Avalanche likely awaits in the second round.The Avalanche are chasing history this season and represent the toughest test in the Western Conference. The Stars defeated Colorado in last year's first round before falling to Edmonton in the conference finals.The Stars return to action with a two-game homestand this week, hosting the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday before facing the Nashville Predators on Saturday. Gulutzan will need his remaining forwards to step up until Rantanen returns to full health.Dallas has advanced to the Western Conference Final in three consecutive seasons but needs its Finnish superstar healthy for any legitimate Stanley Cup run. The hope remains that Rantanen will only miss a handful of games before rejoining a lineup built for championship contention.