Forward Mikko Rantanen's 54th goal tied the Colorado Avalanche record of most in a season set by Joe Sakic in 2000-01.
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Mikko Rantanen scored his 100th point of the season and Nathan MacKinnon had a three-point night in the Colorado Avalanche’s 5-4 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks Sunday at the Honda Center.
Rantanen scored his 53rd and 54th goals of the season and assisted on both of MacKinnon’s goals. With the top line pair having broken the century mark, they became the second in Avalanche history, behind Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg in the 1995-96 season, to record more than 100 points in a season.
The duo also makes the Avalanche the second team in the league with multi 100-point scorers as the Edmonton Oilers have Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
With Rantanen’s 54 goals on the season, he tied Joe Sakic (2000-01) for the most in Avalanche history, since the team moved to Denver. But he didn’t focus on his own personal achievements or the statistics behind them. He instead, commended his teammates and the unity of the team’s win.
“We were really happy about the win, obviously. Wasn’t easy game, wasn’t our best. But found a way, you know?” Rantanen said after the game. “Power play we did a good job, penalty kill was good. And just a team effort so I am really happy. Happy for the two points.”
Ducks score 4 unanswered goals, Avalanche rally to win
J.T. Compher scored off a nifty pass to the side of the net from Valeri Nichushkin in the first but both teams seemed to lack energy to start the game.
“We need our details to be on point. Doesn’t matter who you’re playing in this league, especially on a back to back,” Compher said after the first period. “Especially on faceoffs and stuff where every second you want to make sure everyone’s on the same page and knows their job.”
While the Avalanche pulled ahead 2-0 in the second, they got a bit sloppy and made some mistakes which the Ducks capitalized on, and scored four goals to go up 4-2 nearly halfway into the third period.
But the Avalanche regained control of the game and capitalized on the Ducks penalties with two power-play goals from MacKinnon and Rantanen to tie it up and take it to overtime. MacKinnon’s 39th of the season on the power play won the game.
Colorado successful on the road, focused on getting home ice
The win put the Avalanche in second place for most road wins this season (28) behind the Boston Bruins who lead with 30. The Avs are also second to Boston for wins by a team that scores first with a 39-7-4 record.
“It’s good momentum from the road. It wasn’t easy games, we found a way,” Rantanen said. “Now we just gotta finish it. You know Dallas is winning games too and they’re playing well so we really want to push for the last three games.”
As for the final stretch of the regular season, the Avalanche are not taking their foot off the gas.
“We’ve been fighting with these teams for quite some time and here we are with three left and we have to try and finish the job,” coach Jared Bednar said.
“For us right now, we’re just trying to take care of business in regular season … but right now we’re focused on trying to get home ice.”
After sweeping the California teams on a weeklong road trip, Colorado comes home to face off against the Oilers at Ball Arena on Tuesday night.