Recap: Rantanen hat trick fuels 6-2 win in Pittsburgh
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Colorado Avalanche head home 4-1 on their east coast swing. At last, the final game of this five-game road trip was a meeting with the Pittsburgh Penguins. After sweeping their weekend back-to-back the Colorado Avalanche were hoping to end their sojourn on a high note with another win. And that just happened as the stars shone bright in this 6-2 Avalanche victory.
The Game
it didn’t take long for Nathan MacKinnon to set the tone and get the visitors on the board on a patented individual effort rush at 6:31. It was one of those elusive fast starts the Avalanche needed.
The dogg came to play!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/9WZLamXZiG— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 11, 2024
The second score of the period was just as pretty for a different reason with all three of Artturi Lehkonen, Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen combining for a gorgeous tally with world class skill on display. Rantanen would finish the play at 18:22 for his 16th goal of the season. Up 2-0 after 20 minutes of play the Avalanche had a successful first period.
The moves from Mikko #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/HnyPf7T64w— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 11, 2024
Mikko was feeling good so he decided to score another highlight reel goal to open the second period. Rantanen dusted off the patented one timer and scored his 17th goal of the season at 5:46.
Mikko threads the needle for his second #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/nS1XwdhG7m— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 11, 2024
It wasn’t a complete rout for Colorado as the tide began to turn and Cody Glass answered with his first goal of the season for Pittsburgh shortly after at 7:21. Then a penalty parade ensued with neither team scoring. However, the Penguins would get another in the back of the net just over a minute before the period concluded as Michael Bunting took advantage of some scramble defending and got Pittsburgh within one after 40 minutes of play.
If there was any tension over the second intermission that was quickly evaporated when Val Nichushkin executed his own highlight reel individual effort power move type goal to put the Avalanche comfortably ahead again at 3:21.
FULL SPEED AHEAD #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/Uxj4gZNgJR— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 11, 2024
Artturi Lehkonen padded the lead at 12:21 with his own tally at the net front as Colorado took complete control of the game. Mikko Rantanen added an empty net goal for good measure, which gave him his third hat trick on the season and the 6-2 Avalanche final.
The finnish in front #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/60sEfa76WG— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 11, 2024
Takeaways
Colorado’s top line was on the ice for pretty much every score in this game showing off both the talent and finish skill but also some of the defensive woes that can plague them. Still, it was a banner night as MacKinnon and Rantanen each picked up five points in this victory.
Presumably the Avalanche actively chose to retain Ivan Ivan in their recently flurry of transactions. In this contest he played nearly 12 minutes with time on the power play. An increased role will be critical for him sticking around as/if the team gets healthier. Playing more than his fourth line counterparts Chris Wagner and newcomer Givani Smith is a good step but the situation remains worth watching.
Upcoming
The first of a short two-game homestand against Utah Hockey Club at 7 p.m. MT on Thursday, December 14th. ...
Want the trending hockey news in your inbox daily?.
Just add your email, and we'll start sending you the most important hockey news of the day.
