NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL issued an automatic one-game suspension to Mikko Rantanen on Sunday after the Dallas Stars forward's second major penalty and ejection for boarding in a span of three games.
The first suspension of Rantanen's 10-year NHL career came a day after he checked Calgary's Matt Coronato into the side boards late in the second period of the Flames' 3-2 shootout victory. Coronato bled from a cut on his nose but later returned to the game.
The league issued a statement from its department of player safety saying a player is automatically suspended for a game when he receives two game misconduct penalties, or ejections, in a span of 41 consecutive games played.
Rantanen wasn't suspended after getting a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for pushing Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov into the end boards as both were skating close to full speed and falling to the ice in the final minute of New York's 3-2 win on Tuesday.
Islanders coach Patrick Roy was incensed over Rantanen's hit on Romanov and screamed at the Dallas player as he went to the locker room through a tunnel between both benches.
Stars coach Glen Gulutzan defended Rantanen because he believed his skate was clipped by Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield’s to cause him to raise his arms for balance just before the contact with Romanov, who the Islanders said will have shoulder surgery and be out five to six months.
The league's punishment after Rantanen's hit on Coronato was announced without a hearing. A hearing would be required for a longer suspension.
“The league’s going to look at it,” Gulutzan said after the Calgary game. “He’s tracking back there. I know he’s committed to hitting him. It’s unfortunate. I hope he’s OK. He turns at the last minute. It’s hard to stop. They’ll decide. They’ve seen enough of those hits.”
Rantanen is in his first full season with Dallas after getting traded twice last season. Colorado, the team that drafted the Finnish standout, sent the 29-year-old to Carolina before the Stars acquired him at the trade deadline. Rantanen has 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 22 games this season.
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Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) stops Dallas Stars' Mikko Rantanen (96) and Jamie Benn (14) as Vancouver's Filip Hronek (17), and Aatu Raty (54) defend during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) collides with New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov (28) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
FRIBOURG, Switzerland (AP) — Canada beat Slovenia 3-1 to make it five wins from five games at the ice hockey world championship on Friday.
Emmitt Finnie led with a goal and an assist and Denton Mateychuk and Dylan Cozens also scored. Jet Greaves stopped 13 shots as Canada outshot Slovenia 32-14.
Mateychuk, playing in his first worlds, skated to the top of the left circle before shooting past Slovenia goaltender Zan Us at 11:07 in the opening period.
Cozens added the second from the slot with 6:46 remaining in the middle period for his third goal in Switzerland. Sidney Crosby bagged his sixth assist at the tournament.
Finnie made it 3-0 by deflecting in a shot by Morgan Rielly from the blue line in the final period.
Rozle Bohinc scored a consolation goal for Slovenia with 1:05 left.
Canada tops Group B in Fribourg with Slovakia trailing by three points. The teams meet on Sunday.
Canada has won four games in regulation and one in overtime.
In a Group A in Zurich, Germany downed Hungary 6-2 for its first victory at the worlds after four defeats. Leon Gawanke sparked the Germans with a hat trick.
Later Friday, Finland played Britain in Zurich and Sweden faced Italy in Fribourg.
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Canada's Sidney Crosby, left, vies for the puck against Slovenia's Miha Bericic, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
Canada's Emmitt Finnie, left, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
Canada's Dylan Cozens, second right, celebrates his goal with his teammates Canada's Canada's Macklin Celebrini, left, Sidney Crosby, left, and Canada's Denton Mateychuk, right, centre, after scoring during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, left, concedes his second goal past Slovenia's Blaz Gregorc, right, and Canada's Sidney Crosby, center, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
Canada's Emmitt Finnie, right, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
