NHL News: Rantanen scores 50th goal, leads Avalanche to 6-2 win over Sharks

Avalanche @ Sharks 4/6 | NHL Highlights 2023

Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen’s hat trick led his team to a 6-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.

Rantanen’s feat is particularly impressive as he becomes the first Finnish player — and the seventh player — in the franchise’s history to score 50 or more goals in a single season.

Prior to Rantanen, only four other Avalanche’s players had managed to accomplish this feat — Joe Sakic who did it twice, as well as Peter Forsberg, Milan Hejduk and Gabriel Landeskog.

x – Colorado Avalanche

2023-04-07 03:05

FOR THE 50TH TIME THIS SEASON. THE MOOSE IS LOOSE!!! #GoAvsGo https://t.co/zJyCySp881

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Rantanen’s accomplishment further solidifies his status as one of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) premier players. Since joining Colorado in the 2015-16 season, he has consistently improved his performance over the years.

During the 2021-22 season, Rantanen has been a key player, scoring multiple game-winning goals and contributing to the team’s success in the competitive Central Division.

Given the Avalanche’s frequent injuries throughout the season, Rantanen’s remarkable scoring prowess has been paramount for the team. With a career-high of 293 well-placed shots, he now ranks 10th in the league.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar noted that Rantanen’s growth is evident. The forward has displayed a willingness to take shots and be more aggressive on the ice, standing up for his teammates and himself.

During a game in Dallas last month, Rantanen faced taunting from a fan. In response, he took off his glove and pointed at his ring finger, jokingly implying that he had a Stanley Cup ring. Looking back, Rantanen acknowledged that he probably shouldn’t have done that.

Game highlights

The Avalanche and Sharks play in the Western Conference of the NHL, with the Avalanche in the Central Division and the Sharks in the Pacific Division. The two teams have faced each other many times, with the Avalanche holding a slight edge in the overall head-to-head record.

At 15:43 of the first period, defenseman Erik Karlsson scored for the Sharks, putting them ahead 1-0 with a backhanded shot between Avs goaltender Alexandar Georgiev’s pads. However, Rantanen quickly responded just 1:02 later, scoring his 50th goal of the season with a rebound shot, tying the game 1-1.

Teemu Selanne

2023-04-07 04:50

50 goals and counting 👏👏👏Congrats Mikko Rantanen , I might know where you got your magic touch😂👍 https://t.co/19IHNtClF6

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Rantanen’s spectacular performance continued as he scored again at 2:32 of the second period off a one-timer from a feed by right winger Evan Rodrigues, giving the Avalanche a 2-1 lead.

He completed a hat trick and extended the Avs’ lead to 4-1 at 8:06, redirecting center Nathan MacKinnon’s shot from the far post. This marks Rantanen’s third hat trick of the season and puts him just two points away from achieving his first 100-point NHL season.

Aside from Rantanen’s performance, MacKinnon had a goal and three assists, while forward Ben Meyers netted two goals. Defenseman Samuel Girard also contributed with two assists.

Georgiev made 21 saves for Colorado, driving the team to regain a tie for first place in the Central Division with Dallas. With five games remaining in the season for the Avalanche and four games for the Stars, the race for the division title continues to be intense.

San Jose was riding a four-game point streak into the game. Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen made 15 saves on 19 shots before being replaced by James Reimer, who made 10 saves on 12 attempts.

Despite the team’s loss, Karlsson’s goal and assist in the game made him the sixth defenseman in NHL history to accumulate at least 98 points in a season.