The Dallas Stars made some lineup changes prior to Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against the Edmonton Oilers, and they made some history in doing so.
The Stars began Game 2 on Friday with a starting five of Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz, Mikael Granlund, Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell, all of whom are Finnish-born players. According to the Stars’ social media account, it’s the first time since the NHL began tracking starters that a team put out five Finns to begin a game.
For the first time since the @NHL began tracking starters, all 🖐️ starting skaters are Finnish 🇫🇮 pic.twitter.com/pcxCjccoQq
— X - Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) May 24, 2025
If you’ve been following the Stars’ playoff run, this probably isn’t much of a surprise. The “Finnish Mafia,” as they’re endearingly referred by Stars fans, has been a major reason Dallas has made it this deep into the playoffs.
Rantanen leads all of the playoffs in points and is tied for the lead in goals with nine. Hintz and Granlund are second on the team with five each, Granlund with a hat trick in the series vs. the Jets. Heiskanen has only played four games, but he’s tallied a goal. And while Lindell’s only goal is an empty-netter, he’s come up huge defensively throughout the Stars’ run.
esa lindell saved us pic.twitter.com/8xKhBPfaJ6
— ٰ (@filmpullman) April 24, 2025
No other team in the NHL has has many Finland-born players as Dallas does, and they’ve been coming through so far in the playoffs.
