Mikko Rantanen hit another milestone with his 55th goal to pass Joe Sakic for most goals of an Avalanche player in Colorado's 4-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets Thursday night.
Mikko Rantanen hit another milestone with his 55th goal to pass Joe Sakic for most goals of an Avalanche player in Colorado's 4-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets Thursday night.
DENVER – Mikko Rantanen scored his 55th goal of the season to pass Joe Sakic for most goals scored in a season by an Avalanche player in Colorado’s 4-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
“Just a number, but obviously he was a great player (Joe Sakic). Even to be mentioned in the same sentence with him, it’s an honor. So, yeah, it’s a good thing, right?” Rantanen said after the game.
In the last home game of the regular season with a sold-out crowd, the Avalanche got goals from four different scorers. Denis Malgin put Colorado on the board first at 13:33 in the first period.
The Avalanche didn’t come out of the gate with much energy but managed to find their legs more than halfway through the second period after Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and Kevin Stenlund put the Jets up 2-0.
Rantanen tied up the game a minute and 11 seconds after the Jets took the lead. On a second-effort chance with a pass from Evan Rodrigues and Devon Toews, Rantanen put it past Jets goaltender David Rittich.
“It’s pretty impressive when you’re comparing yourself to Joe (Sakic), you know, on one of his big years,” coach Jared Bednar said about Rantanen’s milestone. “And I know Joe’s happy for him. It’s a big year for Mikko. I mean to be able to score 55, be as consistent as he‘s been all year, 100 plus points, it’s highly impactful to our team.”
Rodrigues earned his second point of the night with the game-winner at 3:01 in the third period.
In Artturi Lehkonen’s first game back since breaking his finger on March 13, he notched two points with an assist on Rodrigues’ goal and scored the fourth goal for the Avalanche.
Lars Eller assisted on the first and last goals of the game to earn two points on the night. Alexandar Georgiev made 23 saves in the big win for the Avalanche.
Bednar has not decided who will start in net against the Nashville Predators Friday night, but Georgiev understands the importance of the win and what’s at stake for the last game of the season.
“It’s a great opportunity and you have to take those chances when you are given those. So, we’ll get a good rest and go again tomorrow,” Georgiev said.
With the Dallas Stars’ 1-0 win over the St. Louis Blues Thursday night, the Avalanche have to win in order to take the Central Division and start the playoffs at Ball Arena.