Mikko Rantanen notched two goals and an assist to extend Colorado's win streak.

The Colorado Avalanche extended their win streak to eight games with a 6-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets Friday night. Mikko Rantanen scored his 38th and 39th goals of the season and added an assist for a three-point night. 

"A little bit sleepy start maybe to the game, and gave up a little bit too much for them maybe, but I think we still had control of the game," Rantanen said. "I think second period was obviously our best. I think in the third the score got away a little bit so then maybe gave up too many chances but Georgie (Alexandar Georgiev) was making big saves. But we're working hard as a team right now and it's been going well so just got to keep doing it."

Rantanen earned his 28th multi-point game following his first hat trick of the season against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night. The 27-year-old Finland native has amped up his game as of late and gotten results from doing so. 

"He's been playing hard for us. I mean, though, all of our leaders know how important it is — like the message that we're sending that we're fine tuning our game so it starts with them. They're the guys that are out there the most, they're out there in all the key situations, they're playing against the other teams top guys every night," head coach Jared Bednar said. "They have to lead the charge and when it comes to the commitment of our game and the details that we're talking about, if otherwise, no one else will follow suit. So they have taken charge and they've ramped up the intensity and that's what we've come to expect from them. And Mikko's certainly one of those guys and he's getting rewarded for it too, now — look at his offensive production over the last little bit, it's been off the charts." 

Cale Makar had a goal and an assist to record a new career-high season for helpers with 59. Nathan MacKinnon extended his home point scoring streak to 33 games with a goal on a breakaway at 13:59 in the third period. Ross Colton scored the game-winner in the second and Valeri Nichushkin notched the final goal of the game at 6:22 in the third. 

Alexandar Georgiev faced 24 shots while the Avalanche recorded 51 shots on goal. The 27-year-old goaltender had been rested for almost a week but was sharp throughout the game. 

"Just trying to be there right away to start," Georgiev said. "Slow start, like you mentioned, both teams maybe, but you try to just play the game there and I felt better as the game went on." 

The win bumped the Avalanche to the top of the Central Division with 95 points. They face off against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins for a matinee game at noon on Sunday. 

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