NHL’s Mikko Rantanen Suspended One Game After Brutal Hit
UPDATE: NHL star Mikko Rantanen of the Dallas Stars has been suspended for one game following a brutal hit that led to his second game misconduct of the season. This incident occurred during the final minute of the second period against the Calgary Flames on November 22, 2025, resulting in a serious injury to Flames forward Matt Coronato.
The hit, which came from behind, sent Coronato crashing into the boards, leaving him bleeding heavily from the face. Rantanen was immediately ejected from the game, serving an early exit as the Stars ultimately lost 3-2 in a shootout.
According to the NHL Department of Player Safety, Rantanen’s suspension is automatic under Rule 23.6, which mandates that any player who incurs two game misconduct penalties related to physical infractions must sit out their team’s next game. Rantanen had just received a similar penalty for boarding Alexander Romanov during a game against the New York Islanders earlier in the week.
With this latest incident, Rantanen now leads the NHL with 57 penalty minutes, five more than his closest rival, Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals. Despite his aggressive play, he has managed to score 10 goals and provide 18 assists this season for the Stars.
The Dallas Stars forced the game into a shootout against Calgary with late goals from Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz. However, it was Nazem Kadri of the Flames who secured the win with the decisive shootout goal.
As the Stars prepare for their next matchup against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, all eyes will be on how they adapt to Rantanen’s absence and whether they can bounce back from this setback.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
