DALLAS (AP) — Mikko Rantanen scored in overtime to complete a hat trick, and the Dallas Stars beat Boston 3-2 on Tuesday night to snap the Bruins' five-game winning streak.
It was the 11th career three-goal game for Rantanen and his first in the regular season since joining the Stars in a trade during the 2024-25 season. He became the fourth Stars player with an overtime hat trick since the team moved to Dallas for the 1993-94 season.
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Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger blocks a shot by the Boston Bruins during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen looks on after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) attacks against Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen, center, attacks against Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, left, and defenseman Nikita Zadorov during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen takes a postgame curtain call after scoring a hat trick against the Boston Bruins during an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Rantanen got his first goal early in the second period to tie the game at 1-all, and he tied it again in the third. His winner came on the power play at 3:52 of overtime when he did some nifty stick work in close and fired a shot past the left shoulder of Jeremy Swayman, who earlier in the extra period stopped Wyatt Johnston on two breakaway attempts 10 seconds apart and finished with 22 saves.
Jake Oettinger stopped 18 shots for Dallas (5-3-1) in its third straight win.
Matthew Poitras and James Hagens scored for the Bruins (7-2-1), who concluded their Western Conference trip at 3-0-1. Boston went 0 for 4 on the power play against Dallas, which came in allowing an NHL-best 1.5 goals per game and had the fourth-best penalty kill in the league. The Stars have allowed one power-play goal on opponents' last 25 chances.
Roope Hintz had a shot from in close deflect off the leg of Boston’s Charlie McAvoy, and the loose puck ricocheted directly to Rantanen, who poked it past Swayman with 6:22 left in regulation to tie it at 2-all.
Bruins: Host Nashville on Thursday.
Stars: Host Winnipeg on Thursday.
See AP’s full NHL coverage here
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger blocks a shot by the Boston Bruins during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen looks on after scoring a goal against the Boston Bruins during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) attacks against Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen, center, attacks against Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman, left, and defenseman Nikita Zadorov during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen takes a postgame curtain call after scoring a hat trick against the Boston Bruins during an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA championship banner kept rising high above everyone on the court, just like OG Anunoby did the last time the New York Knicks played a meaningful game at Madison Square Garden.
And just like that night four months ago, it felt as if fans would never stop cheering.
The Knicks celebrated their championship Tuesday with a banner night — two of them — before losing 106-100 to the Philadelphia 76ers in their season opener.
Wearing white uniforms with gold trim for the occasion — with gold sneakers as well for NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson — the Knicks received their championship rings from Hall of Famer Walt Frazier and then watched as the blue banner reading “2025-26 World Champions” rose to the rafters.
“Really special. Happy we got it out of the way and we can move on for now, but it was a really cool thing,” Brunson said after the game.
Outside of their preseason exhibition games, it was the first time the Knicks played at home since Game 4 of the NBA Finals, when Anunoby's tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining capped off a record-setting comeback from a 29-point deficit. The highlight of the play during a montage that was shown on the overhead videoboard set off some of the loudest roars of the night.
Brunson began his remarks to fans Tuesday by referencing that game, thanking them for not leaving the arena early.
The Knicks finished off the San Antonio Spurs in the next game, setting off “Knicks in 5! Knicks in 5!” chants around New York that resumed Tuesday night.
Brunson told fans that the Knicks were seeking to turn the page after the team's first championship since 1973.
“But one thing I would like to say,” he added. “The joy that this city had this summer, we would love to replicate that again.”
Brunson had talked about trying to move on from last season since the Knicks arrived at training camp, but acknowledged Tuesday night the difficulty in doing that until after they'd had one last celebration.
“You have everyone praising guys, praising us about what we’ve done a couple months ago,” he said. “And it’s just human nature and it’s difficult, but just to hold each other accountable we've been trying to do that, just to make sure that we’re on the same page and trying to get better.
“Obviously we’re very thankful for what we did, but there’s still a lot left for us to prove.”
Before raising the title banner, the NBA champions hung one at Madison Square Garden to celebrate the NBA Cup title they won last season.
The Knicks broke with tradition last December when they became the first team to win the in-season tournament and then not commemorate it with a banner. They said at the time they were looking ahead to bigger things.
They ended up getting the biggest thing possible in the rematch with the Spurs. The Knicks also defeated San Antonio in the NBA Cup final.
The NBA Cup banner went up sometime after the Sixers held their morning shootaround at the arena. Coach Mike Brown said before the game it was a recognition of the Knicks' journey last season.
“There were a lot of, obviously, ups and downs throughout the course of the year, and our guys rallied and figured out a way to win the NBA Cup,” Brown said, “and then you go ahead and win the regular season final, or excuse me, the end of season final, and it’s just a recognition to not just to our guys, but to the fans out there.”
The two banners were the first hung at Madison Square Garden by the Knicks since they won the Atlantic Division title in 2012-13.
But things move quickly in New York. After struggling through their opener, the Knicks know there's work ahead to stay at the top.
“Like, we shouldn’t sit there and think that we’re champions, because we're not,” forward Josh Hart said. “Right now we’re 0-1. We're the worst team in the NBA, as of right now.”
See AP’s full NBA coverage here
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson wears gold colored shoes during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns gestures before an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Former New York Knicks player Clyde Frazier looks at his ring before an NBA basketball game between the Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The New York Knicks 2025-26 World Champions banner is raised before an NBA basketball game between the Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, looks on with teammates as the Knicks 2025-26 World Champions banner is raised before an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns waves as the Knicks 2025-26 World Champions banner is raised before an NBA basketball game between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Toronto Raptors play the New York Knicks during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
