Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Nets power-play goal in loss
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Rantanen scored a power-play goal on five shots, added two hits and went minus-2 in Friday's 2-1 double-overtime loss to the Stars in Game 6.
Rantanen opened the scoring in the second period, but Jake Oettinger slammed the door for the rest of the game. With four goals and 10 assists over 11 playoff outings, Rantanen was his usual productive self in the postseason, but the Avalanche will go no further. The 27-year-old has earned back-to-back 100-point campaigns and could take his offense even higher in 2024-25, which is his contract year.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Helps out on power play
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Rantanen logged a power-play assist, three shots on goal and two PIM in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Stars in Game 5.
Rantanen helped out on a Cale Makar tally late in the second period, which tied the game at 2-2. After posting one goal over the Avalanche's previous three contests, head coach Jared Bednar moved Rantanen down to the second line at even strength, a switch that could negatively impact the winger's offense. He's at 13 points (four on the power play) with 27 shots on net, 19 hits, 12 blocked shots and a plus-1 rating over 10 playoff appearances.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Scores lone goal in Game 3 loss
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Rantanen scored a goal on four shots in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Stars in Game 3.
Rantanen tied the game at 1-1 in the second period, but the Avalanche couldn't build on his goal. The winger was held off the scoresheet for the first time in the playoffs in Game 2, but he bounced back well. He's produced three goals, nine assists, 21 shots on net, 14 hits, 11 blocked shots and a plus-4 rating over eight postseason appearances in a top-line role.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Two more helpers in Game 1
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Rantanen logged two assists in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime victory over the Stars in Game 1.
Rantanen set up Cale Makar's power-play marker midway through the second period before grabbing the primary helper on Nathan MacKinnon's game-tying goal 39 seconds into the third. The 27-year-old Rantanen has points in six straight games to start the postseason, recording two goals and nine assists. He posted 104 points (42 goals, 62 assists) in 80 regular-season contests.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Three-point effort in win
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Rantanen scored twice on four shots, added an assist, went plus-4, logged three hits and blocked three shots in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Jets in Game 5.
Rantanen finally buried a goal of his own after picking up seven helpers before scoring. His first tally in the third period was the game-winner, and he scored again a few minutes later. The 27-year-old has nine points, 14 shots on net, 13 hits, six blocked shots and a plus-6 rating over five playoff outings. He should continue to play in a top-line role heading into the second round.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Sends two power-play assists
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Rantanen notched two power-play assists, three shots on goal and two PIM in Friday's 6-2 win over the Jets in Game 3.
Rantanen has been all playmaker in the postseason with five helpers over three contests. He's added six shots on net, nine hits and a plus-1 rating while playing in his familiar roles on the top line and first power-play unit. Rantanen has two goals and five assists during his five-game point streak, which he'll look to keep rolling in Sunday's Game 4.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Helps out on empty-netter
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Rantanen posted an assist, two shots on goal, five hits and a plus-2 rating in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Jets in Game 2.
Rantanen has three helpers and nine hits over the first two contests of the playoffs. The 27-year-old winger continues to thrive in a top-six role, and he should get his looks throughout the postseason. Rantanen had 10 points in Colorado's seven-game playoff run last spring, so he's no stranger to contributing at this time of year.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Deals two helpers in loss
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Rantanen notched two assists and four hits in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Jets in Game 1.
Rantanen assisted on goals by Nathan MacKinnon and Casey Mittelstadt. The 27-year-old Rantanen was limited to four points over six appearances in April to close out the regular season, and he missed two games with a concussion. The winger had 104 points -- one shy of his career high -- in 80 outings overall and should continue to be a productive part of the Avalanche's offense in the playoffs.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Scores in OT loss
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Rantanen scored a goal on six shots in Sunday's 4-3 overtime loss to Vegas.
Rantanen's up to 41 goals and 103 points through 79 games, ranking eighth in the league in points. His prolific pace has slowed down the stretch, though, as the winger has only two goals and seven points in his last nine outings. Rantanen will look to flip the switch in the playoffs after Thursday's regular-season finale versus the Oilers.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Good to play Saturday
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Rantanen (concussion) will draw back into the lineup Saturday versus Winnipeg.
Rantanen, who has missed the past two games, has 40 goals and 102 points in 77 outings this season. He is projected to skate on the second line alongside Valeri Nichushkin and Casey Mittelstadt, which is a departure from his standard role on the top unit with Nathan MacKinnon. The Avalanche's new assignment for 27-year-old Rantanen likely reflects a desire to balance out their offense before the postseason.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Probable for Saturday
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Rantanen (concussion) is likely to return for Saturday's tilt against Winnipeg, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports Friday.
Rantanen has missed the Avalanche's last two games because of the concussion. He has 40 goals and 102 points in 77 appearances this season. Although Rantanen typically serves on the top line, he's projected to instead play on the second unit alongside Valeri Nichushkin and Casey Mittelstadt. Colorado might be experimenting with splitting up Nathan MacKinnon and Rantanen in an attempt to spread out their offense ahead of the playoffs. Even if Colorado goes through with that plan, MacKinnon and Rantanen should still share the ice on the power play.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Cleared to absorb contact
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Rantanen (concussion) has been cleared for contact in the lead up to Saturday's matchup with Winnipeg, Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now reports.
Rantanen needs just three more points to match his career-high point total from last season (105). The Finn skated in a second-line role at Friday's practice and could be set to fill that spot in the lineup once given the all-clear to play.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Won't play versus Wild
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Rantanen (concussion) will not be in the lineup against Minnesota on Tuesday, Evan Rawal of Colorado Hockey Now reports.
Rantanen is expected to begin skating with the team, which could open the door for him to return to action versus the Jets on Saturday, though he hasn't been officially cleared. In his last 12 outings, the Finnish winger has racked up nine goals and nine assists, including five power-play points.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Out Sunday
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Rantanen (concussion) won't play Sunday against the Wild, Ryan Boulding of NHL.com reports.
Rantanen departed Friday's game against the Oilers with an upper-body injury after taking a hit from Mattias Ekholm, and he'll remain sidelined Sunday versus Minnesota. Per coach Jared Bednar, Rantanen skated Sunday morning and is day-to-day while in concussion protocol. Chris Wagner figures to slot into the lineup while Rantanen is sidelined, with Zach Parise liking moving into a top-six role.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Exits Friday's contest
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Rantanen (upper body) will not return to Friday's game against Edmonton.
Rantanen took a big hit from Mattias Ekholm during the second period and did not come back in the game. Prior to getting injured, Rantanen tallied an assist and two shots on goal. The team should have an update on his status before Sunday's tilt with the Stars. The 27-year-old Rantanen has racked up 102 points through 77 games.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Hits 100-point mark for second time
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Rantanen had three assists Saturday in a 7-4 win over Nashville.
Rantanen hit the 100-point milestone for the second straight season -- he's the sixth player to reach that mark this year, and the Avalanche forward is the sixth player in franchise history with at least two 100-point campaigns. More interestingly, Rantanen has delivered 60 assists for the first time in his career. The Avs triple threat of Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar have been fantasy forces all season, and they all traditionally perform out-of-this-world in the postseason. All three are among the all-time NHL leaders in career points per game during the playoffs. Four words: money in the bank.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Slides assist in loss
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Rantanen had an assist, one shot on net and one block in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Canadiens.
Rantanen redirected a pass from Devon Toews to Nathan MacKinnon for Colorado's lone goal just 43 seconds into the game. After having his 14-game point streak halted in Sunday's improbable comeback win over the Penguins, Rantanen will attempt to begin a new one. He's up to 97 points through 72 games and is threatening last season's career-high 105 points.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Three more points in win
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Rantanen scored twice on three shots, added an assist and went plus-3 in Friday's 6-1 win over the Blue Jackets.
Rantanen's second goal came on the power play. The winger has five multi-point efforts over his last seven appearances, racking up eight goals, nine helpers and seven power-play points in that span. Rantanen is up to 39 tallies, 96 points, 236 shots on net, 48 PIM and a plus-16 rating through 70 appearances. He needs nine points to match last year's total, though he likely won't hit his career high of 55 goals.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Hat trick vs. St. Louis
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Rantanen scored three goals in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Blues.
Rantanen opened the scoring in the first period and added a power-play marker in the second before capping the hat trick with the game-winner in the third, beating Jordan Binnington from the slot off a Blues' turnover. It was certainly an impressive rebound effort from Rantanen after he saw an 11-game point streak end versus Edmonton on Saturday -- the 27-year-old winger now has eight goals and 23 points in his last 12 contests. He's up to 93 points (37 goals, 56 assists) through 69 games this year as he looks to top the 100-point mark for the second straight campaign.
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Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen: Produces pair of points
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Rantanen scored a goal on five shots and added a power-play assist in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Canucks.
Rantanen sparked the Avalanche's comeback by getting them on the board late in the second period. He also helped out on Nathan MacKinnon's third-period marker. During his 11-game point streak, Rantanen has five goals and 15 assists, including six power-play points. The 27-year-old winger is up to 34 goals, 90 points (37 on the power play), 225 shots on net and a plus-13 rating through 67 outings overall.
